KLAWOCK, ALASKA TOKEN DISCOVERY

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V27 2024 INDEX E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 6, February 11, 2024, Article 22

With permission, we're republishing this article on a recent eBay find of a rare Alaska token from the February 2024 issue of The Alaskan Token Collector & Polar Numismatist edited by Dick Hanscom. Artificial intelligence has a hand in this one. -Editor

All persons having any of the aluminum checks issued by the North Pacific Trading and Packing Company of Klawock, Alaska, are hereby notified to send or present same to the office of this company at Klawock for redemption before January 1, 1909, as no more of these checks will be issued.
H.F Swift, Supt.

The above news article was reported in the October, 2023 issue of this newsletter. This token sold in December 2023 on eBay for $915. The token is aluminum, 34.2mm in diameter.

Dick notes, "Previously, the only tokens known were brass. This made the calling in of the aluminum tokens more interesting." -Editor

J.D. Williams called this to my attention. I had not seen it on eBay, for reasons that will become apparent.

Whenever a newly discovered token appears, my paranoid side blares out warnings. I look for reasons that it is legitimate, or possibly a fake or fabrication.

The token has the same error as the 50¢ brass, showing the abbreviated company name as N.P.T&P.O^OS., so my first thought was they used the same punch. But the 50¢ is good for merchandise, but the newly discovered $1 is good for coin!

Now, I say punch because all the lettering is incuse. It would make more sense for a punch to be used rather than a die.

As to the denomination side, the lettering looks the same on the square brass $1 and the newly discovered round $1 aluminum.

J.D. Williams notes what he sees as differences (see the large illustration on the next page): the second parallel line in the $ sign looks longer and the base of the dollar sign and continuation dashes look thicker. And perhaps the curve up in the bottom of the S in Alaska is different although maybe that is only a matter of lighting.

The comment on the $ sign might be there, but I am seeing the same angle coming off the top of the S. As to the other differences, I think they can be attributed to wear. The square brass $1 is a well used token.

The only way to know for certain is to have images that could be superimposed to see how the lettering lines up.

Now as to this possibly being a fabrication, J.D. said he found the lot description suspect. I had not paid much attention to it, but went back and re-read it.

This vintage aluminum coin is a unique item to add to your collection. The coin features the design of the KLAWOCK Store and has a value of $1.00. With a diameter of 1 1/2 inches, it is a great souvenir to remind you of your visit to Alaska or to add to your Commissary Coin collection. This item was made in the United States and is a great addition for any collector.

I had to laugh. Recently when I was putting some coins on eBay, I was offered the opportunity to let AI write the description. It was horrible. It is apparent that the seller used this option and let AI describe the token. The seller listed this in Collectibles & Art > Souvenirs & travel memorabilia > U.S. > Alaska. So that is where AI got the idea of a souvenir and reminder!

The seller states that the token was from his father's collection and that there was only one. The seller dabbles in tokens and this was the only Alaska token offered at this time. The majority of his offerings are collectibles. A listing under collectibles most likely resulted in it not being seen by as many Alaska token collectors as possible.

A saltery was established at Klawock about 1869 by George Hamilton. He sold his trading and fishing post in 1876. The North Pacific Trading & Packing Co. was incorporated under the laws of California in 1877.

The 45-year index to The Alaskan Token Collector & Polar Numismatist has just been published, covering the years 1979 to 2023. Wow! -Editor