TOKENS - A General Overview
Tokens were a means of exchange, struck in the form of privately issued coins. Of all the users of tokens, coal companies were perhaps the largest. Coal company tokens were, and still are, commonly referred to as “scrip”, while tokens are simply referred to as either lumber, merchant, trade or saloon tokens. Tokens used to control the acquisition of explosives by miners are known as “explosive control tokens” or simply “exploders.” Tokens are found in a variety of denominations, most commonly, however, are 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ and $1.00, but can also be found in $5.00 and $10.00. Less common denominations are 2 ½¢, 3¢,12¢, 15¢, and $20.00. Tokens are also found in a variety of compositions, shapes, sizes and designs. Some with punches (cutouts) and some without. Some are very plain and others very ornate. Tokens with images are known as “picture scrip.”
Scrip has been said to be an acronym for “Substitute Cash/currency Received In Payment,” but the exact explanation may have been lost to time. Much has been written about the use of scrip throughout history, but put succinctly, scrip was a means of bookkeeping and a method of advancing wages to a miner prior to his payday. Further, because of the remoteness of many of the towns the use scrip and other tokens alleviated the need for carrying large amount of cash on hand.