Bakers Creek Coal Mine, Drifton.
US 10 Cent Trade Token from Bakers Creek Coal Mine of Drifton Alabama.
Image from Stamplarry@aol.com
This mine was in operation from 1911-1913, with 20 employees.
This is the only Token issued by this company.
Bi-metallic Coal Company Scrip...by Jack Hepler, USA
During the early part of the 20th Century, coal was the
primary energy
source for most of the commerce of the day. The Appalachian
Mountains,
stretching from north Alabama to Quebec were found to
be one of the richest
sources of coal in the country. Hundreds of small coal
mining operations
were started to satisfy the nation's enormous appetite
for fuel. Often these
sites were in very remote, unpopulated parts of the mountain
chain. To
satisfy the demand for labor, Coal Companies offered
incentives including
schools, medical treatment, housing, initial credit for
purchase of food and
supplies, and a job for the poor folks who were often
near starvation in the
surrounding areas. Some communities were so remote that
barter was the
primary mode of commerce, thus, there was also a serious
shortage of stores,
so the Coal Companies added mercantile outlets Company
Stores) to the list
of incentives.
There was also a shortage of circulating currency and
coin. Introduction of
scrip as a method of payment for the coal miners satisfied
the currency
shortage. Since the scrip was not legal tender, the buyer
could only make
purchases at a facility that was willing to accept the
scrip. Each coal
company issued its own scrip, which was rarely accepted
at any place other
than the Company Store. Those places that did accept
the scrip usually
discounted the value of the scrip, sometimes as much
as 50 percent. This
would then be redeemed with the Coal Company but at a
discounted value,
usually 70 to 90 percent. Twenty-nine states had companies
that issued what
is commonly called Coal Company Scrip. There were 13
states where
Bi-metallic scrip was issued from 59 Companies. World
War II marked a
turning point in the use of scrip and within 15 years,
virtually all
coal-mining operations were using only legal, US coins
and currency. Much of
the scrip was melted, some buried or simply thrown away.
Today, scrip is
difficult to find outside of the issuing localities and
even there, a
collector needs to do some serious searching for Bi-metallics.
A list of
states and companies that had bimetallic scrip, contact
Jack Hepler if you know of others,
WBCCmember #47. E-mail: Heplerj@juno.com
Bimetallic Coal Company Scrip*
State Location Company
Alabama
Bakers Creek Coal Mine, Drifton.
US 10 Cent Trade Token from
Bakers Creek Coal Mine of Drifton Alabama.
Image from Stamplarry@aol.com
This mine was in operation from 1911-1913, with 20
employees.
This is the only Token issued by this company.
Brilliant Wilson Bros. & Co.
Arkansas
Russellville R. Anthracite Coal Mining Co.
Colorado
Strong Sunnyside Store
Illinois
Christopher Christopher Stores Co.
Christopher Coalfield Company
Dowell Bradley Supply Co.
Herrin Yuill Bros. Mercantile
Trenton Ginzel Mercantile
50 Cent Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
Witi W. Mercantile Co.
Indiana
Linton J.W.Wolford & Sons
5 Cent Scrip. Image from Jack Hepler
$1 Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
Vicksburg Coal Bluff Mining Co.
Iowa
Colfax C. Mercantile Co.
Ottumwa Black Diamond Store
Stevers Colfax Mercantile
Kansas
Scammon The Fidelity Coal Mining Co.
Stone City The Fidelity Coal Mining Co.
Kentucky
Balkan Southern Mining Co.
Brownie Gibraltar Coal Mining Co.
25 Cent Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
50 Cent Scrip. Image from Cliff Anderson
$1 Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
$5 Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
Downing Lots Creek Coal Co.
Elcomb The E. Coal Co.
Gaston Harland Gas Coal Co.
Kildau King-Harland Co.
Letcher Marian Coal Co.
Logmont Sagamore
Madisonville West Ky. Coal Co.
Molus Morris Saylor
Morton’s Gap Harrison Stores, Inc.
Nortonville Harrison’s Stores
Nortonville Harrison’s
Packard Mahan Jellico Coal Co.
Richam The R.H. Elkhorn Coal Co.
Stearns The S. Lumber Co.
Te Jay Southern Mining Co.
New Mexico
Dawson Southwestern Mercantile Co.
Image from Rich Hartzog
Yankee The Yankee Mercantile Co.
25 Cent Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
50 Cent Scrip. Image from Cliff Anderson
Oklahoma
Alderson Rock Island Coal Co.
Alderson Baker-Riedt Mercantile Co.
Brewer Southern Fuel Co.
Dewar Miners Mercantile Co.
Hartshorne Rock Island Coal Co.
Hartshorne Baker-Riedt Mercantile Co.
Henryetta Central Coal & Coke Co.
Pennsylvania
Madera Madera Trading Co.
$1 Scrip. Image from Daniel Shoemaker
$10 Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
Madera Liberty Trading Co.
$1 Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
$5 Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
$10 Scrip. Image from Cliff Anderson
Osceola Leader Supply Co.
Texas
Bridgeport Coal Company.
5 Cent Trade Token. Image from Sheila Medd
25 Cent Trade Token. Image from Sheila Medd
Virginia
Honaker H. Lumber Co.
West Virginia
Armen Borderland Coal Co.
Diana D. Store Co.
Dingess Pearl Coal Mining Co.
Eccles Shoal Creek Coal Co.
Ethel Logan Coal Co.
Flemington T.B.Davis Mine
Grey Eagle G.E. Coal Co.
Monogah F.K. Lowe’s Meat Market
10 Cent token with Copper ring variety. Image
from Jack Hepler.
25 Cent & 10 Cent Scrip. Image from Rod
Sell
50 Cent Scrip. Image from Cliff Anderson
Omar Main Island Creek Stores
Preston P. Supply Co.
25 Cent Scrip. Image from Jack Hepler.
Seth Barnett-Rumble Co.
$1 Scrip. Image from Rod Sell
Tunnelton T. Supply Co.
Wilsonburg Clark Coal Co.
50 Cent & 25 Cent Scrip. Image from Rod
Sell.
Wyoming
Acme A. Coal Co.
Miscl Northern Central Coal Co.
* Reference Edkins Catalog.