When the United States of America administration took over the island of Puerto Rico, around September 1898, it faced an unstable economy and precarious infrastructure, both inland and at the larger cities.� Within the first 22 to 32 years of American presence in the once held Spanish stronghold, this type of token or menchant's coin circulated in various shapes, sizes and even non-round forms. Its dimensions fluctuated from 19mm to 25mm at most, and usually made of tin or rarely in aluminum, not many were struck in copper. Even though the one shown here is from 1910, this specific type was circulating from as early as 1900, mostly struck in the back of a warehouse at a larger city in the island with subsidiaries for each merchant or farm dealer.Inland, specifically within the mountain towns, agriculture and the selling of necessary goods was practically the two aspects moving people in and out of farm sustained communities. Those who stayed, faced dependency on major "Hacienda" owners as laborers and non-payed workhands. Being on a non-pay status meant to depend on running food certified bills or food notes and, within more organized farms, tokens with various denominations pegged to larger commercial providers or wholesale dealers (who at most instances were well-to-do Spaniards who befriended American investors and government officials.)This is a 1910 token worth 10 cents, pegged to F. GÓMEZ a merchandiser tied to the "Hacienda Palma Escrita" in the�municipality of Las Marías, Puerto Rico. The town is located in the Western Central Mountain range. This area is known to produce Valenciana type oranges, coffee and other citric fruits. With this token, a laborers' wife was able to acquire flour, sugar, dry goods and in rare cases meat. Prizes were that low, poverty was extremelly high. This products were also bought at the merchandiser's store facility usually or conveniently located within the entrance of the Hacienda or plantation. It was a round business.This is historically relevant as a monetary item representation, a token with buying power from the very beginning of the twentieth century. It is a vintage non-financial item� from a territory of the USA as it worked towards a better future.

In my quest to complete the circulating coinage of my ancestors, those from Ireland, the fascinating� sub-type of coin collecting Condor Tokens drew me in when finding and buying the beauty in the images. The Cronebane-Wicklow, the subject of the week.� � � � � �Enjoy!

Is anyone aware of a reference book or catalog that lists all of the tokens made relating to the Schenectady/Albany, New York area?

UPDATE:� The Smithsonian Institute has one of these tokens in their collection as part of their National Museum of American History.� According to their website, these tokens were made in the early 20th century by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connectictut.� Scovill made, among other things, buttons, tokens, coins, and medals... and staplers, as my mother had a Scovill stapler at her desk for many years.

Hi. Yes this will be a short blog on some of the buildings on Kempson tokens. The ones I chose today are a few of the buildings still standing� from the time they were built. Some are so good it looks like Kempson took a picture of them.. The best part is the years these buildings were put up. I'm not talking 1797. Some of these were built in the 1300's the 1500's. and so on. Just think of that for a moment.�� � � � �The English were excellent record keepers so the dates were not just put on these. You can say some went over rehabilitation but the original face of the structure is the same. Now Kempson almost seems like he knew these would still be around for hundreds of years even some of the gates that protected the city still stand. They are beautiful works architecture. The wall that encircled the city parts still stand.� � � � �Doing research I said I wonder if some of these are still standinng. I went to work and i was surprised. St.John's church later became St.John's High School.� I wrote a journal of these at N.G.C. A few days later I get a message from a fellow collector . He said I went to St John's school there I grew up in Coventry.. Small world. I asked him if he or if he knew of others that lived there if they had any of these tokens. He said none. Passed down from his family he was told they used them.� � � Now I bet if I continued� I will find more.� This is something I thought of after the set was finished. The other tokens I collect many are still standing. Not just Kempson but others. Cathedrals ,government buildings. If you check Kempson other set of building of London many still stand. Some were destroyed in WW. 11.� Hitler had an obsession with� Coventry. He bombed it a lot. One famous Cathedral. St. Paul's� he wanted destroyed. He felt it be could level this Cathedral it would take the resolve from� the people and he could take England. He sent over 200 bombers and St.Paul's still stands.� The people stayed inside and put out the fires. It was built if I remember by Wren. It's in the heart of London. One thing NGC graded many Red Brown the token below it looks like the lights are on!! St.Marys� � � � Sorry I got it the topic. That's ok the two are connected. St. John's token and picture like I said look so much alike.� The same with Bablake and St. Mary's Hall. St. Mary's is used as a catering hall today and� ceremonies.� If you look at the token and the picture there is a wonderful likeness. . I will end this short blog on these wonder tokens and buildings. I hope.you see the talent of this man.� We need people like this working today the old way. The way commens were done and older.coins. No lasers here.!!Be well be safe!!� � � ��