Wooden Nickel update

Vancouver Numismatic Society at Hotel Vancouver 1971

I asked about Wooden Nickels at the last club meeting. There were 4 of us collecting them! Gene knew of several sources of information. He also remembered spending one at a coffee shop! The idea of wooden money came from America apparently – back in the 1930s when banks in Washington State issued them in an emergency. Dec 4th Canada Coin News have just published a fascinating article on Wooden money by Jesse Robitaille Collecting wooden money remains strong in Canada There’s a collector’s society too! “Founded in 1975 with 45 charter members and expanding beyond 200 members by the end of…

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Club Meeting this Tuesday 20th + Wooden Nickels

Bad Girls of Vancouver wooden token

Does anyone remember wooden nickels? Many can remember being cautioned not to take a wooden nickel! Does anyone remember using them in shops ? I’ve been reviewing my collection of B.C. wooden tokens. Most are adverts for local businesses in Vancouver and British Columbia.  A few have ‘made in USA’. Was there a local B.C. firm producing them as well ?  We may find out more on Tuesday 20th 6.30pm at the North Shore Numismatic Society club meeting at our usual Bonsor 55+ .I’ll bring a selection of these fascinating pieces of British Columbiana. Here’s one from our sister club…

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Medicine Man Charlie’s Wooden Nickel

Token Talk with Duff Malkin Medicine Man Charlie’s Wooden Nickel What can give me a good buzz is the discovery of something I did not know about and which is somewhat unusual and I did not expect to see. This following wooden nickel is one such item. It is quite thick for a wooden nickel (7mm or about ¼ of an inch, which may have been more relevant in Canada’s pre-metric days). Ranier Provisions is in Gastown at 2 West Cordova. It is a licensed restaurant. I am not sure whether it is the “Rainier of Gastown” referred to on…

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