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Bridge or ferry tokens?

Started by brandm24, January 23, 2022, 01:58:22 PM

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brandm24

Although these Wood County (Wisconsin) Bridge Co. tokens date post Civil War era they're still considered Civil War tokens. They're included in a small group of issues known as non-contemporary pieces, those that were issued several years after but have some connection to it.

These Wood County pieces date from about 1867 to 1873. Though the war ended in 1865 they're still listed as non-contemporary because many of them are overstruck on legitimate war tokens. There are two varieties, the overstruck examples and those struck on plain planchets. The values that I've seen are 2 1/2, 15, and 25 cents. There may be others.

While the tokens themselves are pretty straightforward, the Wood County Bridge Co. isn't. Not only is the history of the company obscure but the purpose of the tokens is too. Transportation across the Wisconsin River between Centralia and Wisconsin Rapids was accomplished by either ferry or bridge. Though some say these were ferry tokens a Wood County historical site I found mentions a bridge that was built in 1865.  It made mention of the fares charged. A foot passenger was charged 3 cents, Hogs or sheep 2 1/2 cents each, horse, cattle and mules in droves exceeding 10 were 5 cents each, a single horse and rider 5 cents and a vehicle drawn by 2 horses, mules, or oxen 25 cents. It makes no mention of tokens. Based on that information, I'd say these were likely bridge tokens.

The images below are of  two overstruck examples and the reverse of a 25 cent non-overstrike. The first two are a store card of a Milwaukee hardware and stove dealer whose name is obliterated by the overstrike. The third is the reverse of a 25 cent non-overstrike The fourth and fifth are struck over an Army and Navy patriotic issue. All of these issues have generic obverses.

Bruce
Always Faithful

Figleaf

If they are post US civil war, was there still a shortage of small change? If not, how were they used. Discounts for frequent users, perhaps?

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

brandm24

I would imagine that the hoarding ended fairly quickly as the government struck large quantities of coins and there was no need to hoard anymore. The Civil War tokens, of course, had no value at that point though some tried to redeem them with the issuers.

In the case of Wood County they must have come across a quantity of tokens that they decided to have overstruck. They would save a bit of money by not having to pay for new planchets. It makes for an interesting numismatic item.

These were obviously good for one trip as the known denominations match the price of the fare for the different categories of travelers...two legs or four. ;D 2 1/2, 15, 25 cents. I would think there was a5 cent fare token as well but I wasn't able to come across one.

Bruce
Always Faithful

Figleaf

Right. Good for one trip. But why the expense of tokens if there are coins?

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

brandm24

Probably for the same reason that merchants have issued tokens for nearly everything. I image these were sold for convenience to their customers and for Wood County to make a little extra money. They could have had these made cheaply and make a small profit on each one.

Bruce
Always Faithful

Figleaf

That don't work. As cheap as they may come, they have to have a useful function or they lose money. They cost money to recycle: one chap at one end of the bridge to sell them, one on the other end to take them back. What's the chance someone swims halfway, climbs onto the bridge and walks the other half for free unnoticed? Just receiving the toll in coins on one end of the bridge takes only half the staff.

I can think of some options: selling them in bulk at a discount (e.g. you can buy 10 tokens denominated 15 cents for say $1.25), selling them at a discount to the locals, but not to furners or being unable to set up a payment operation (e.g. no permission from the powers that be or banditry in the neighbourhood) and demanding that tokens be bought elsewhere, so staff will not handle money. Only the first one sounds convincing to me, but I am not hindered by factual knowledge of the area. :)

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

brandm24

Yes, these tokens are hard to figure out. Even CWT experts and auction descriptions say nothing or very little about the history of them. The mechanics behind them isn't discussed at all, so how they were actually used or distributed apparently isn't known.

My fascination about the issue is the undertypes. I'd love to get a pile of these and really study them closely in an attempt to identify the CWTs they were overstruck on.

Bruce
Always Faithful

Henk

I am researching the bridge and toll tokens used in the Netherlands. I found that when payin the toll or bridge money at many tolls also a return ticket could be bought. On the return trip one did not have to pay but simply handed over the ticket or indeed token. The tokens for the toll road between  Den Haag (The Hague) and Scheviningen and those for the toll bridge in Warmond were used as return tokens (tickets).

Figleaf

That sounds like a credible option!

Peter
An unidentified coin is a piece of metal. An identified coin is a piece of history.

brandm24

I agree with Peter, Henk. It's certainly a better explanation than any I have.

Everything about the history of these tokens seems little understood. I found a mention of the chartering of the Wood County Bridge Co. but no actual details about partners, capitalization, or even a name for the bridge apparently built across the Wisconsin River. Indeed one source even went so far as to say there was never a bridge but only a ferry service. Available information or speculation leaves me only to wonder.

Bruce
Always Faithful