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Texas Trade Tokens From Braggin' on the Brazos Post civil war reconstruction brought northern carpetbaggers, and families from devastated southern states to Texas. Migration of settlers and expanding westward railroads brought new economic growth to Texas during the 1870’s . In communities along the Brazos River, merchants began employing trade tokens to build clientele. Trade token were used just like we use store coupons today. However, most back then were metallic and resembled coins.
Saloons handed out tokens to cowboys on cattle drives to entice them into their establishments. Many clientele could not read but could associate a picture on a token to a picture on a business signs above an establishment. Company lumber towns, ranch communities, coal mining operations, and other industries would issue wages in tokens to be redeemed at company stores. Texas trade tokens reflected the individual character of merchants who issued them. In the early 1870's, Texas trade tokens generally consisted of a round metal object about the size of a quarter. Scalloped edges like flower petals, animal figures, triangles, crosses, clipped corners, and other geometric forms appeared. Pictures of horses, bulls, ships, cotton bales, elephants and other highly recognizable objects enhanced the token trade. Silver tokens corresponded in size and value to the American dollar and circulated as dollars. Smaller denominations were fashioned by physically cutting the larger pieces into eight, four, or two pieces. The eighth-sized piece was called a "bit," and the quarters and halves soon became "two bits" and "four bits"--terminology that is still a part of our everyday language—or at least to those of us who are old enough to remember it. The heyday of token usage was in the first decade of the 1900’s. "Mom and Pop" grocery merchants were scattered throughout neighborhoods and on major corners of most Texas towns. Prevalence of tokens began to decline as consolidation of the grocery industry merged into larger stores or grocery chains. Decline of token usage came with new inventions, changing economics, and politics. Invention of automobiles allowed customers to travel to better bargains.
Prohibition in the 1920’s killed liquor trade tokens. The 1930’s Great Depression helped to eliminate scrip tokens with enforcement of wage laws and 1940’s WWII rationing tokens caused a dislike for tokens in general. Plenty of small change was readily available in a booming in the post-war economy and returning soldiers brought back modern business ideas. Token usage steadily declined in Texas as well as the United States and was virtually dead by the 1950’s. Today, token collectors boast of an incredible range of varieties and styles, many of which are still being discovered today, perhaps as a building is torn down or street construction uncovers token treasures that have been misplaced for years. One such collector recently found a token, issued in 1898 by Rogers Brothers in Taylor, Texas … good for 20 cents worth of ice. Another, 12 and a half cent token good at the bar in Bailey’s Place in Rockdale. And one of the most prized is a token issued by the Bugle Tailoring Company in Calvert, good for $1.00 on a $20.00 purchase. I’m Fran Lamb and this has been another episode of “Braggin’ on the Brazos” brought to you by The Calvert Historical Foundation. Funding for this episode is graciously provided by the Robertson County Historical Commission. For additional information about historical sites in your area, visit www.brazostrails.com, and click on “Braggin’ on the Brazos.
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