Looking for certain Baltimore tokens

[redbeardrelics]

Hello there, I am looking for info or help locating some 1840-1860 era tokens. I am looking for tokens from the soda or mineral water manufacturers, brewers or bottlers from Baltimore Maryland from this time frame to go with their bottles that I also collect. I know there are some tokens from "Keach Soda", Randall's Mineral Water", "Chapmans Soda", "A. Knight's Mineral Water", and probably others. The ones I have seen so far are silver. I have been watching ebay, but they don't seem to show up there, I was wondering if there are clubs or other sources where I might obtain these tokens or others? Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Idahotokens]

One of the fascinating things about collecting tokens is the "thrill of the hunt" - if you decide to collect a certain type, you will soon find that tokens aren't commodities that you can go down to the corner store and buy. People often relate token collecting and coin collecting, but coins are much more available. You can buy just about any coin you want if you pay the price. I relate token collecting to metal detecting. You do the research looking for a fertile spot to hunt, then go out and do your best. You probably have found this with bottle collecting, too.

You could join one of the national token collecting clubs and advertise your wants in their publication and/or attend their annual meeting where a lot of material changes hands. There is also a state group, the Maryland Token and Medal Society. Contact me off list for particulars if you'd like. As far as books, there is a rather hard to find book by David E. Schenkman called Maryland Merchant Tokens.

John in ID

[redbeardrelics]

Thanks John, I think you are right. I will probably have to join the specialist token organizations and go to the shows, advertise, and then bide my time until the opportunity arises to obtain what I am looking for. I just purchased Russell Rulau's Catalogue of US Tokens 1700-1900 off ebay, and can now see that there is a lot to learn about. Thank you ,and happy hunting / collecting,