MORE ON THE RADIANT AMERICAN EAGLE GAMING COUNTER

I just saw the numeral 20 game counter on the site. I happen to know exactly what it is. It is a radiant eagle game counter...... It was issued in several ways. All of these are rare.

Rad-14 as listed by TAMS is guilt brass. plain edge. 40mm. issued with a watch stem.

Rad-15 is smaller without an ornamental rim and 34mm.

Rad-15a both obv. and rev. is struck with the numeral 20 where rad-14 and 15 have the eagle on the obv.

These counters were issued to a casino. The variations were patterns and some were trial pieces. These are not common and are quite valuable. The watch stems were a gimmick to entice men to buy a piece and never use it, thus a profit to the establishment. All were destroyed when the casino changed counters, but a few survived.

In 1973 this piece was listed as worth $27.00. it has grown a bit in value since. It is good to see these counters re-born. The piece shown on your site is worth every bit of $175.00 today. I have the best collection of these known.

This particular counter was issued with or without an ornamental border. They are quite rare with the watch loop, as it was called in the day. The December 1972 TAMS Journal issue shines some more light on this token.

It is important to know that all the variations of the different numerals were intended and were used in a casino or saloon. they could not be redeemed anywhere else except the establishment where issued.

In the game counter world, many different variations exist. The same category for example may would have different size counters of the same kind. either they were a sample to the establishment, maybe a salesman's sample (which I doubt), or the different sizes were issued to different gambling establishments.

I have found within my collection that different reverses often share the same obverse. From the 1880's to the present day all casinos use different style counters, their size, color, and weight were then as now big factors in what each establishment wanted. This would answer why there are different variations.

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: UNKNOWN COPPER COIN IDENTIFIED AS AMERICAN GAMING COUNTER (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v13n20a16.html)

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see: WATCH FOBS AS NUMISMATIC ITEMS (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v16n15a15.html)

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