Showcasing My Exonumia Collection: Tokens, Medals, and Hidden Gems

You know, as someone who’s collected coins since I was a kid, I’ve always been drawn to exonumia – those fascinating bits outside regular coinage like tokens and medals. Last week, I pulled out my old collection and was amazed at what I’d forgotten. Let me walk you through some highlights and share why these pieces grab me.

So What is Exonumia Anyway?

Think of exonumia as the wild cousins of coins: merchant tokens, casino chips, counterstamps, even quirky wooden nickels. What hooks me is how each piece carries history in its metal. Just last Tuesday, I rediscovered a wooden coin club token that got me wondering – how did this everyday item become someone’s treasure?

Why Counterstamps and Tokens Steal My Heart

Counterstamps? They’re history puzzles stamped in metal. I’ve got several where you can spot die variations that make certain pieces rare. Here’s what I’ve learned from handling mine:

• Always flip tokens over – I once spotted a design shift that hinted at multiple mintings
• With Civil War storecards, condition and history matter most. A well-preserved piece with documented roots feels like holding history

My French Jeton from 1776 still takes my breath away. It’s a reminder to handle these gently – that original patina tells half the story.

Medals That Whisper Stories

Nothing beats unfolding a medal’s backstory. Take my Brooklyn Bridge commemorative – that winged man figure? Turns out it likely honors workers who died during construction. And my 1879 Temperance medal? It taught me that understanding the cultural moment makes these pieces resonate. They’re not just pretty metal – they’re time capsules.

The Oddballs I Adore

Exonumia’s charm lies in its surprises. Encased coins? Brilliant little protectors of history. Then there’s my sheet of Anaconda mine copper – not coin-like at all, but heavy with industrial tales. And casino chips? I collect them for their flashy designs that capture Vegas in its Rat Pack glory days.

Hard-Won Collecting Tips

After decades in this hobby, here’s what I’d pass along:

• Grading Truth: Original surfaces win every time. I’ve kept a fake token just because it was beautiful, but real value lives in honest wear
• Market Reality: Scarcity rules. Civil War tokens gain when history buffs hunt them, especially with unique dies
• Storage Wisdom: Acid-free holders saved my wooden pieces. Don’t let time eat your treasures

Exonumia turns collecting into detective work where every find connects you to someone’s story. Dig through your own collection – I bet there’s magic waiting in those drawers!