GLOUCESTER TOKEN REPRODUCTIONS OFFERED

A few E-Sylum's ago, someone mentioned the Gloucester Token. This is an extremely rare American token and when it was mentioned to me about five years ago, I thought I would go to Gloucester, Virginia and see what I could find out about it. I shop in Gloucester every once in awhile from my house in Deltaville, so the next time I was there, I drove over to Main Street, the old part of the town. I could not find a coin store so I walked Main Street and stopped in antique stores. One of them knew about the token and showed me a copper or brass replica he had for sale for $5!

Genuine Gloucester Token

Replica Gloucester Token

The antique store dealer told me it came from the DeHardit Press in Gloucester, which publishes a local newspaper called Glo-Quips. Someone in the press had the replica's minted in 1973 and even copyrighted them. They have been selling them for $5. each for years and add on another $1 for postage and handling if you order it through the mail. They do not have a website and do not use PayPal or use other online payment systems so you will have to order the old fashion way with a check for $6. to:

DeHardit Press
7339 Lewis Avenue
Gloucester, VA 23061

I wrote about this replica's availability in an article for Numismatic News when I discovered it. There were quite a few orders to the antique store where I bought mine and I have no idea how many were ordered from the press. The antique store went out of business so you will have to order from the press.

I have scanned an image of the advertisement from one of my old issues of Glo-Quips, and both sides of the replica so they can be shown in The E-Sylum. I am sure there must be some more collectors out there who will want to fill a hole in their collection for the Gloucester Token with this replica.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: ANOTHER EARLY FIVE-POINTED STAR ON A U.S. COIN (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n09a12.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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