Here's a few that were handy at the moment, not the best photos, the 1943 shiny penny is a war time steel penny. I have more , just have dig for them , I also have a wallet that my grandfather had during WWII. The wallet says souvenir of Africa 1943? .on the inside there are several paper money bills from Germany and other places all dated from late 20's to late 30's My grandfather was a Sargent with the famous company B , infact he was one of Audie Murphys Sargents also in the movie that Murphy did "To Hell and Back" the Sargent they called "Beltzki" spelling? was based on my grandfather. My grandfather didn't have to many negative things to say about Murphy just that the citizens back home needed a hero to look up to and Murphy was what they got and what they got wasn't always the truth but it's what they wanted to hear. And that Murphy owed him money, infact when my grandfather was telling his stories he usually had his box of war things out and I remember one time during story time the wallet being brought out and in it was a folded up piece of paper that had Murphy and some money amount some crossed out some not written on it but years later when the wallet and other items got handed down to me the piece of paper was not in it. On a funny note ...after the war and when Audie Murphy started making movies and making a name for himself my grandmother after hearing the story at one time about Audie owing my grandfather money from losing card games , she came up with a address and wrote a letter to Audie,with out my grandfathers knowledge, explaining how now that he was famous and obviously making money now would be a good time to payoff his gambling debt....well my grandfather found out about the letter when it was returned and marked "Return to sender" he was not happy with my grandmother for trying such a thing and it was dropped..the letter is still in with some items that my aunt has..
My old coin collection can be counted on one hand . All five found in antique / vintage cars i,ve cleaned out here since 1978. NOTE, the coins are older than the cars were . Now instead of trying to make a decent photo of a dirty old unpolished dark brown coin i just went to google and theres allways someone selling the same with nice clear photos. So i have the same as these photos, right down to the same year only not shiny. The first photo is a silver 25 schilling from Austria . The others are bronze or copper.
While searching google i came across this rather unfriendly token/ coin from the noted advocates guild . The back side says " a way to prevent knaves getting a trick " I think the asking price was 400 British Pounds
oldest coin i have i found in my cars speaker, must have fallen in the speaker grille decades ago. its a 1953 wheat penny.
I can even tie this topic back into Hot Rods! Check out these wheat pennies that were used as backing to fill some holes on the inside of my '32 3W cowl (1915 & 1945):
I started collecting coins in fifth grade (1958). Everything I have I took out of circulation at face value. I have most pennies, nickels and dimes issued during the 1900's and 2000's. I was less able to acquire quarters, half dollars and silver dollars, but I have some of each.
I have always looked at any change I get handed back to me. Always on the look out for wheat backs and pre 63 stuff. It just amazes me as to how long these have stayed in circulation and nobody ever just sets them aside or cares. The oldest wheat back I have is a 1909.
Yeah, me too...started collecting in 1959 with my Dad...and never stopped. Over the years have amassed a pretty decent collection. THEN, about 15 years ago, I became sort of a "conspiracy theorist" about the economy and started buying up a lot of "junk silver" (pre 1965 U S silver coins) and even some Gold coins. I think a lot of those older coins are re-introduced into circulation when the grandkids find grandpa's stash and buy candy & soda at the local convenience store or such.
As an interesting aside...from this conspiracy theorist In the 1960s you could buy a gallon of gas for 39.9 cents...or 4 dimes...those 4 dimes were 90% silver. In 1965 Federal Reserve and treasury took the silver out of coins and gave us the "clad coinage" and fiat currency we have today. Today a gallon of gas cost about $5.00, or 50 of todays "clad" dimes.. BUT those 4 dimes from the 60s that were 90% silver, today are worth $5.48 ($1.37 ea) in real money silver value. The point is, only the fiat "fake " Fedreral Reserve paper money and coinage has lost value (buying power) through inflation. Real money (pre '65 90% silver coinage) has increased it's value substantially in spite of inflation.
A old radiator guy said it was good luck to fix a penny to your radiator. So most of our cars have a penny matching their year . But 1932 pennies are not so easy to find. Depression years maybe?? I always keep looking.
That is what's referred to as a Trade Token, and was about the same as today's paper coupon. These were popular in the 1920s to the 1950s. Bar & grill ones are the most common...but being a scarcer ice cream one, it's probably in the $10-$20 range.
I have this Chevy token from 1940 that was among some coins my grandparents left me. I don't know much about it. It's slightly smaller than a 1/2 dollar.
The Jalopy Journal
