Israel? Passenger boat token?

[FosseWay]

This is on Tradera at the moment - thought I'd save it for posterity here.

The seller says it's from Israel, possibly a passnger boat token, probably 1970s. I have no idea how correct this is. He/she seems to be certain it's from Israel, though.

Blue plastic, 24 mm, other side is blank.

[Kushi]

Somerfin Lines operated Mediterranean passenger ferries from Haifa, Israel, starting about 1959. The uniface tokens are denominated 5, 25, 50 and 100 agorot with colors being red, yellow, blue and green for all values. Haffner states there are also white and bluish-purple tokens, much scarcer. Diameters 17, 19, 21 and 25 millimeters.

Apparently tickets were sold for transportation only. Food had to be purchased separately. The tokens were for observant travelers to avoid using currency on the Sabbath in the dining facilities. They had to be purchased on board in advance of Friday evening sunset.

[FosseWay]

I have just acquired a green 25 agorot example of this. It is 22.8 mm diameter, which does not fit with the range of sizes given above.

[malj1]

No Israeli tokens listed in Smith ship cat.

[FosseWay]

That could be due to three things:

1. They're not transport tokens in the sense of being used for fares - they were used to buy food etc. on board.
2. If the approximate date is correct (1970s) they won't have made it into the 1967 edition and might simply have been missed at the 1981 update. They might even be too recent for 1981.
3. There's quite a lot missing from Smith in general - certainly in Sweden, and presumably elsewhere.

Or that I (and Kushi) are barking up the wrong tree, of course.

[malj1]

I think he would be correct.

I checked the 1967 edition there are only three tokens listed for Israel; increased to five in the 1990 edition.

He does say there: "(see World catalog listing Ship money tokens)" 

BTW Smiths ship cat. is 1991

[Kushi]

Malcolm, Do you have a ship token catalogue of the Smiths? I've never seen it.

In any case these plastic Somerfin tokens were not for fare payment. As mentioned in the second post above, they were ship's money used at the canteen, restaurant, etc.

[malj1]

Re the Smiths ship cat. 1991  I referred to...

The full title: "Catalogue of World Ferry, Ship and Canal transportation tokens and passes"  and publ. 1981

Presume this is the same one he mentions under Israel.  "(see World catalog listing Ship money tokens)" but Israel doesn't get mentioned here. so by that time he probably realised they were not fare tokens.

[Kushi]

Mal, double check your copy. Mine is as follows.

Catalogue of World Ferry, Ship, and Canal Transportation Tokens and Passes
First Edition 1981
compiled and edited by Kenneth E. Smith and Kirk S. Smith

[malj1]

Yes you're correct. 

But in that case why say  "(see World catalog listing Ship money tokens)" ...unless there is another book for ship money that I am unaware of

[Kushi]

I am quite certain the "World catalog listing Ship money tokens" was never published.

[malj1]

A page on these is now on WoT we need just five more imagers to complete the page.