Owner Comments:
BIMETALLIC TOKEN APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Almost Uncirculated - Type A (Curved PAT - Period on Reverse)
*A stunning, problem-free example of this rare bimetallic issue. The eye-appeal is exceptional for this specimen, as no discoloration is observed. The piece is uniform on both the obverse/reverse and has very little wear. Full golden luster is present on the brass portions of the obverse/reverse.*
BIMETALLIC TOKEN BACKGROUND:
Bimetallic issue struck for the Elks Club Lodge No. 1053 in Montrose, Colorado. Token was used for 10C in trade.
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Not only are bimetallic tokens rare themselves, I’ve found problem-free examples to be even less common; particularly those in higher AU-mint state condition. This is likely due to their frequent usage during the era in which they were actually used as merchant trade tokens.
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There are two bimetallic tokens from the Elk’s Club No. 1053 in this collection, yet of different varieties and denominations (5C; no elks head & 10C; elks head - type a); catalog numbers listed below . Nevertheless, the small sub-set created is significantly rare. Additionally, there are two known varieties of the 10C issue described as follows in Pritchard, as well as cataloged in the Colorado Merchant Token guide (CMT):
- Pritchard MO446-10a/CMT M5455b - 10C: Elks Head (Curved PAT - period on the reverse) ~5 Known — *Included in Collection Here*
- Pritchard MO446-10b/CMT M5455c - 10C: Elks Head (Straight PAT - no period on the reverse) ~4 Known
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- Pritchard MO455-5/CMT M5450a: 5C: No Elks Head ~11 Known — *Included in Collection*
CATALOG NUMBER(S):
Schenkman E111-10
Pritchard MO446-10a
CMT M5455b
RARITY: Pritchard estimates ~5 examples are known
(*TOP POP* NGC Pop = 1; NONE Finer - NGC Total Pop = 1) [04/2022]
BIMETALLIC TOKEN DESCRIPTION:
(Montrose, Colorado, Bimetal [Brass/Aluminum], 25mm, Round, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: Elk’s Club / No. 1053 / Montrose, Colo. / (Elks Head)
REVERSE: Good for / 5 / in Merchandise/ Pat. (Curved Pat) / July 1899
HISTORICAL TOWN/CITY BACKGROUND:
(Montrose, Colorado):
“Joe Selig, the town founder, named Montrose for the Duchess of Montrose, a character created by Sir Walter Scott, a Scottish writer. Now Montrose serves as the gateway to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, a site that you should not miss. It’s kind of Colorado’s answer to the Grand Canyon.” — Credited Source: Stuart Pritchard