Wooden Nickel proves to be a priceless heirloom. Brief history of wooden nickels in the United States

I recently rediscovered these wooden nickels in a keepsake box buried in the back of a cupboard. They had belonged to my grandfather. While serving as godly Master of Freedom Lodge # 328 in 1998, he had distributed them to fellow masons and friends .
As I have few possessions that belonged to my grandfather, who died of ALS in 2010, these wooden nickels are peculiarly valuable to me. If concerned you can read his autobiography hera. recently I ’ ve wondered what the history of the wooden nickel was and why people handed them out .

Brief History of Wooden Nickels

here in the United States, a wooden nickel was not ( typically ) legal tender but rather more of a novelty mint often redeemable for an item such as a drink issued by merchants or banks as separate of a promotion. Wooden nickels became popular in the 1930s though they may date back adenine far as the 1880s. During the Great Depression, banks in both Tenino and Blaine Washington issued emergency currentness printed on thin shingles of wood due to coin shortages.

normally, wooden nickels served more of a commemorative aim becoming a popular bridge player out from banks to boy scout troops at deluxe openings and limited events. A full example is the 1933 Chicago World ’ s Fair that issued wooden nickels as souvenirs .

The tradition of wooden nickels as tokens and souvenirs continues to the confront day. My grandfather had them printed to commemorate his year as adoring Master. More recently, wooden nickel trade has become more democratic. Individuals can have their own personalized nominal made and then trade with others who besides have had their own made. It is specially popular in geocaching .
Wooden nickels come in a variety of designs. several popular sprout designs hearken to the Buffalo nickel struck by the United States Mint from 1913 to 1938. It featured the head of a native american on one side and a bison on the other side. The coin was designed by sculptor James Earle Fraser .

Etymology

“Don’t take any wooden nickels.”

Read more: Bitcoin Mining

This blithe proverb serves as a reminder to be cautious in one ’ south dealings and not permitting yourself to be cheated or duped. The saying likely predates the use of wooden nickels as a refilling currency, suggesting that its origins lie not in the actual monetary value of the nickels but preferably in their strictly commemorative nature .

But that ’ sulfur adequate history. When you are fix to start an adventure that ends with a keepsake wooden nickel, click here.

References

Share this:

• Tweet

Like this:

Like

Loading…

source : https://leowiki.com
Category : Economy