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The E-Sylum: Volume 27, Number 51, December 22, 2024, Article 25

SAN FRANCISCO MINT VENDING MACHINE TOKENS

Here's an interesting U.S. Mint-related item I came across this week, described as "OFFICIAL INNER-OFFICE MONEY OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MINT." -Editor

  5 cent - Business Enterprise Program obverse in holder 5 cent - Business Enterprise Program reverse in holder

To read the complete lot description, see:
Lot 850T: OFFICIAL INNER-OFFICE MONEY OF THE SAN FRANCISCO MINT (https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/OFFICIAL-INNER-OFFICE-MONEY-OF-THE-SAN-FRANCISCO-850T-c-EFB400E936)

There's an entry for one of these on Numista. -Editor

  california Business Enterprise Program 10 cent token obverse california Business Enterprise Program 10 cent token reverse

Obverse
Stars and eagle

Reverse
Lettering:

BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM CALIF 10 ¢ 1984

Edge
Plain

Comments
San Francisco, California (San Francisco County), U.S.A. Used by U.S. Mint employees in vending machines within the mint. Business Enterprise Program is a nation way program inside the state correctional (prison) system. Inmates learn a skill/trade while some company gets some very affordable labor. At some facilities inmates where paid in tokens with could be used in the inmate commissary. There is also a 1985 version of this token. California Correctional Industries is headquartered in Folsom (Sacramento County).

To read the complete entry, see:
Numista › Catalog › United States › United States Modify or add data on this page 10 cent - Business Enterprise Program California (https://en.numista.com/catalogue/exonumia316502.html)

A dealer has a three-denomination set for sale, with some more information. Interesting story. -Editor

  san francisco mint business enterprise tokens

Like most mints, the San Francisco mint prohibited employees from possessing coins while working in the mint in order to reduce the opportunity for theft. These brass tokens were used during the 1980's and 1990's for vending machines and the canteen inside the mint. One side depicts an American eagle surrounded by stars. The other side has the legends "BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM" "CALIF" "1984" and the denomination. The sizes of the tokens are slightly smaller than their corresponding U.S. coin: The 5 cents is 20mm, 10 cents is 16.5mm and the 25 cents is 23mm. Similar tokens, dated 1985, were used in California prisons.

Anyone have any of these? Are there other denominations? -Editor

To read the complete listing (scroll down), see:
https://www.joelscoins.com/tokens.htm



Wayne Homren, Editor

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