Owner Comments:
TOKEN APPEARANCE/CONDITION:
Brilliant Gem*
*Stunning bright golden brass colored surfaces, untoned fields and strong devices exhibit excellent eye-appeal for an example that was phenomenally well-preserved; The intricacy and detail of the wording on the REV. only adds to this effect.*
TOKEN BACKGROUND:
Token used by The Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce in Breckenridge, Colorado circa 1963 for 50¢ in trade at the annual “The Kingdom of Breckenridge: ULLR Winter Carnival.” — An extremely rare and collectible variety from 1963, as most were gathered and counterstruck with “Souvenir” over 50¢ to abide by existing laws. — Having an example is such pristine condition only adds to its rarity.
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Pritchard estimates just ~3 examples are known to exist; A rare issue in all grades. — Of the 8 issues struck by the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce (1963-1967 & 1978) - (several varieties exist within certain years), all exhibit exceptional rarity. To emphasize the rarity of the series, of the 8 varieties issued, the highest number known for any type is just ~3. — This partially-complete set was not purchased as a lot. Each specific issue was sought out and purchased individually, as examples are extremely challenging to obtain.
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The Complete Series of The Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce “The Kingdom of Breckenridge: ULLR Winter Carnival” is Shown Below, as well as what is Included in this Collection and what is Outstanding (N/A):
- Pritchard BR275-63a/CMT B4795a - Examples Known: 3 (NGC MS-66): Included in this Collection
- Pritchard BR275-63b/CMT B4795b: “Souvenir” stamped over 50¢. In cash or trade at - Examples Known: 2 (NGC DETAILS: UNC CLEANED): Included in this Collection
- Pritchard BR275-64/CMT B4795c - Examples Known: 2 (NGC DETAILS: UNC CLEANED): Included in this Collection
- Pritchard BR275-65/CMT UNL - Examples Known: 1 (NGC MS-64-PL): Included in this Collection
- Pritchard BR275-66/CMT B4795d - Examples Known: 2 (N/A)
- Pritchard BR275-67/CMT B4795e - Examples Known: 2 (N/A)
- Pritchard BR280-78a/CMT UNL - Examples Known: 2 (N/A)
- Pritchard BR280-78b/CMT UNL - Examples Known: 2 (N/A)
CATALOG NUMBER(S):
Pritchard BR275-63a
CMT B4795a
RARITY: Pritchard estimates ~3 examples are known
NGC Census not available.
TOKEN DESCRIPTION:
(Goldine, 32mm, Circle, Plain Edge)
OBVERSE: The Kingdom of Breckenridge / (Dressed-Up Character on Skis in Middle) / ULLR
REVERSE: The Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce sponsors this coin / good for / 50¢ / in cash or trade at any / participating business / in Breckenridge, Colo. / On or before March 24, / 1963 / ULLR / Winter Carnival / March 22-23-24
HISTORICAL TOWN/CITY BACKGROUND:
(The Kingdom of Breckenridge and Its 1st ULLR Dag Festival + Associated Tokens):
"Breckenridge celebrated its first Ullr Dag festival 58 years ago this week, and the town has never been the same.
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In spring 1963, Breckenridge Ski Area was just two seasons old. Many other new ski areas in Colorado opened in the early 1960s, and Breckenridge needed to find a way to stand out. A celebration was called for, but how would the town differentiate a new winter carnival from the slew of traditional carnivals around the state?
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Enter the Norwegians and a cast of youthful enthusiasts who hitched their dreams to the nascent ski town of Breckenridge. Crazy, outlandish, wild ideas made the Ullr Dag, or Ull’s Day, festivals unforgettable.
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Norwegians Trygve Berge and Sigurd Rockne came to Breckenridge to start the ski school, and they brought Norse mythology with them. Ullr, the Norse god of winter and patron of skiers, inspired the theme. Breckenridge’s historic No Man’s Land Celebration provided the background to establish Breckenridge as a kingdom. The ideas flowed from there. A kingdom needed a king and queen, its own currency and visas to enter. Traditional winter carnival activities such as a parade, torchlight procession and a dance provided enough familiarity to keep the event grounded in a semblance of reality. Ullr Dag was on.
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The first goal: attract attention. Brilliant marketers burst into a Breckenridge Town Council meeting to demand a return to the kingdom, setting the stage for the event. Rugged men skijored from Breckenridge to Denver to invite the governor to be the first king of Breckenridge. Talk of secession attracted the scrutiny of the U.S. attorney general.
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When the U.S. Department of the Treasury demanded that Ullr Dag organizers stop minting their own coins for circulation during the event, the press took notice. The people of Breckenridge couldn’t pay for that kind of notoriety.
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“We minted coins, which was against the law,” said Bob Atchison, public relations manager for Breckenridge Ski Area in 1963.
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The front and back of a 1963 Ullr token is pictured.
Coins provided by Maureen Nicholls / Breckenridge Heritage Alliance
Intrigue between rival ski areas surfaced with the saga of the Ullr coins, and someone reported Breckenridge to the U.S. treasury. Coin souvenirs, along the lines of Ullr talismans, were common swag at Colorado events. Robert Theobald, attorney for the event, reminded treasury officials that many other places issued these coins and that “there had been no holler at all.” Treasury officials admitted the law was rarely enforced, but someone registered a protest.
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“Some person is pressing this matter very hard,” quoted the news article. Theobald noted: “Somebody’s trying to make trouble for us.”
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The offending coins were swept up and stamped with “souvenir.” Those coins that escaped the alteration are valuable collector’s items today. No one knows who lodged the complaint with the treasury, but local rumors place the blame on a nearby ski resort, which just happened to plan its grand opening celebration on the same weekend as the first Ullr Dag. If true, the protests backfired. Breckenridge garnered even more attention as a result of the dust-up.
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If Breckenridge was in trouble, it was good trouble. Attention was piqued for the first Ullr Dag. How could the event possibly live up to the promise inspired by the outlandish introductions?
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Crowds of curious tourists came to the first Ullr Dag to see what all the fuss was about. Arrival in Breckenridge required the purchase of a visa for 25 cents at the two points of entry along Colorado Highway 9, also known as north and south Main Street. (Park Avenue did not exist in those days.)”
Credited Source: Leigh Girvin / Breckenridge Heritage Alliance