Focusing Your Interest
Getting started in token collecting can be exciting, but it can also be a bit daunting. Some folks begin collecting with the thought of collecting everything that they find, but with the vast number of token varieties out there, you probably would find more satisfaction in focusing your interests into one or more specific categories. A few examples of specialization might include:
Tokens from specific counties.
Tokens from individual towns.
Tokens from particular companies or merchants.
Tokens with images (commonly referred as "picture scrip")
Specific types of tokens, such as coal, lumber, merchant, etc (note that these are general subdivisions-- you still probably want to specialize further within these types)
Specific denominations, such as pennies or dollars.
Particular manufacturers of tokens, such as Ingle System or Insurance Credit System just to name a couple.
Scrip from companies or mines where a relative worked.
The list can go on and is only limited by your imagination. If you can, focus your interest as early as possible in your collecting endeavors. It will benefit you greatly by allowing you to focus your energies (and money) into an attainable goal. But don't feel locked into a particular area of interest just because it is how you started. Collecting should be fun!
Finding Tokens
The search for tokens is where the excitement begins! Oftentimes friends or relatives will have tokens that they are willing to share. These usually have some connection to the family, so be sure to get as much personal history as possible and keep it with the token.
Most collectors, however, purchase their tokens from dealors, and with the advent of online auctions, such as eBay, the possibilities of locating tokens are endless. One such eBay seller is one of the early pioneers of scrip collecting and the the father of Token Talk. Walter Caldwell has promoted the hobby of token collecting for over 30 years and sells regularly on eBay under the screen name scripman2003 and also has an eBay store under the name HILLBILLY STUFF. Check out his listings regularly as he adds new material all the time.
Storing/Displaying Your Collection
Most collectors place their tokens in 2x2's, those cardboard holders with mylar inserts. These allow for good protection of tokens and gives plenty of space for writing pertinent information. The 2x2's are then placed either into small boxes or plastic pages. Beware of plastic pages made from PVC (poly vinyl chloride). They usually have a very strong "plastic" odor removed from a closed area. The PVC pages are extremely common, but can harm your tokens because of the plastizers that migrate from the pages into whatever they are in contact. First signs of the migratin plaztizers is usually a sticky feel on the 2x2's mylar insert and may eventually make its way to the token. Pages advertised as not containing PVC is your best bet.
Handling Your Tokens
It is always best to handle your tokens in 2x2's, thus it will not be in contact with the elements, or your fingers. No matter how many times you wash your hands, there will be some oils on your fingers, which can leave fingerprints on your tokens or cause them to become discolored. As with most anything that is collected these days, the advice of keeping them in a cool, dry place still holds true. Most tokens are very durable and have been through a lot and can still take a lot of abuse, but I would rather err on the side of caution.