Back to Mike Locke's non-California small gold token index.

Alaska gold tokens. See also "Alaska's Coinage through the years" by Gould and Bresset.

45 varieties listed

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Alaska
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No date, sunset over the ocean with 13 stars around. KLONDIKE * CHARM in 3 lines with the words forming an oval on the reverse. RARE. Provisionally listed under Alaska while I figure out if Klondike in this context is in Canada or Alaska.

1862 Eskimo, "2 TOOWAH" (2 Ivories) between a pair of tusks. $2 size GB108. This token is gilt brass. It weighs 0.75 grams and was struck from very worn dies. Any of these are solid indicators that this is one of the common Tatham restrikes. The gilt is mostly intact on the illustrated token, making it one of the nicest gilt brass examples that I have seen. Most examples are worn and have most of the gilding missing.

The Tatham Brass TOO WAH (circa 1945, reportedly struck by Howard MacIntosh) measure 14.7mm x 0.6mm and weigh around 0.74 grams. The Nathan Joseph original 12K gold pieces measure 15.0mm x 0.8mm and weigh between 1.23 and 1.59 grams. The originals were priced at $1.15. The originals usually show more detail, see the next pictures. Jay Roe identified 3 varieties of the 7 star reverse (3 illustrated).

1862 Eskimo, "2 TOOWAH" (2 Ivories) between a pair of tusks. 5 star reverse. Jay Roe calls this variety R5. The first illustrated token measures 14.9 x 0.7 mm and weighs 1.43 grams, which corresponds to a 14K composition, while the second illustrated token measures 15.1 x 0.8mm and 1.42 grams, corresponding to 10K composition. There is a slight rotation of the dies on the first token. The first picture shows a late die state with coin orientation, the second picture shows the early die state with medal orientation.

1862 Eskimo, "2 TOOWAH" (2 Ivories) between a pair of tusks. 7 star reverse with first star away from T and right tusk narrow, short and away from sled. Unknown if this obverse is correctly paired with this reverse, but it probably is. Compared to the above obverses, this one has a high 2, low star to the left of the 2 and head centered between "A N" (it is centered beneath the right foot of A on the other). Jay Roe calls this group of varieties HR6 as a group.

1862 Eskimo, "2 TOOWAH" (2 Ivories) between a pair of tusks. 7 star reverse with star 1 very close to T and right tusk wide, long and very close to sled. Similar to #3 but obverse details differ. The illustrated token has been rather harshly scrubbed.

1862 Eskimo, "2 TOOWAH" (2 Ivories) between a pair of tusks. 7 star reverse with star 1 away from T and right tusk wide, shorter and very close to sled.

Sets of 6 "PINCH" tokens (1, 1/2, 1/4, round and octagonal) for 1897 and 1898 are known to exist.

Lester Merkin Nov 1965 sale #368 reports 16 star Indian left, 1909 1/2 pinch token

In the March 1907 issue of "The Numismatist" Thomas Elder has the following advertisement
THE LATEST! Beautiful Alaskan gold piece of 1/4, 1/2 and $1 size, of fine workmanship, both round and octagonal. Obv. Indian head. Rev. "Alaskan gold-ONE-pinch," with date. Similar "1/2 Pinch" and "1/4 Pinch." They look like the old California pieces. The best I have seen, and will improve your collection. Made of 14 karat gold. Dollar size each $1.75 ; 1/2 dollar size, each $1.10, 1/4 dollar size, each 75c. Warranted Alaska gold and full size.

Gould and Bresset list the following
  One Pinch round, 1897-1899, thin or thick planchet, 11 varieties total
  One Pinch Octagonal, 1897-1901, thin or thick planchet, 11 varieties total
  1/2 Pinch round, 1897-1902 (no 1901), thin or thick planchet, 8 varieties total
  1/2 Pinch Octagonal, 1897-1900, thin or thick planchet, 7 varieties total
  1/4 Pinch round, 1897-1901 (no 1899 or 1900), thin or thick planchet, 9 varieties total
  1/4 Pinch Octagonal, 1897, 1898, 1901, 1902, 6 varieties total

1897 Indian with 16 5 pt stars. "ALASKA GOLD 1/4" inside wreath Imitation of earlier "1/4 PINCH" token. Appears to be lacquered brass.

1897 Indian with 16 5 pt stars. "ALASKA GOLD ONE" inside wreath. Imitation of earlier "ONE PINCH" token. Appears to be lacquered brass.

1897 Indian with 16 5 pt stars. "ALASKA GOLD ONE PINCH" inside wreath. Unusually thick, reeded edge. GB109 or GB110, Burnie #1. The 1915 Hart set had one of this type included, as illustrated in the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's)

1897 Indian with 16 5 pt stars. "ALASKA GOLD above wreath, sun with rays and ONE inside wreath. Very rare.

Alaska 1 pinch, 1898. Part of the Hart set sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. GB 135 or GB135A This reverse appears in the 1915 cased set, as illustrated by the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's)

Alaska 1/2 pinch, 1899. Made by Hart. GB121, not in Burnie. One of this type included in the 1915 Hart set.

1899 Indian, the same as #1. Very similar but slightly different reverse. Made by Hart. GB121, not in Burnie.

1899 Indian, the same style as the state gold series, same reverse as 1899 #2. Made by Hart. GB120, Burnie #3. Burnie says that one of these is in the "Coins of the Golden West" set, yet the available pictures seem to show GB121. The reverse matches this token, as illustrated in the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's)

1900 Indian with 16 5 pt stars. "ALASKA GOLD 1/2" inside wreath Imitation of earlier "1/2 PINCH" token. Appears to be lacquered brass.

1900 Indian with 16 5 pt stars. "ALASKA GOLD 1/2 PINCH" inside wreath The "real" token that the one above copies. GB145

1900 Indian facing left, "ALASKA GOLD 1/2 PINCH" inside wreath. This reverse appears in the 1915 cased set, as illustrated by the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's)

Alaska 1/4 pinch, 1901. Part of the Hart set sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. GB131

1901 Indian with 14 stars. "ALASKA GOLD 1/4 PINCH" inside wreath, reeded edge. One of the Faran Zerbe pieces GB129. The obverse of this token appears in the 1915 cased set, as shown in the lower illustration (access to set provided by Kagin's).

Alaska 1/4 pinch, 1902. Part of the Hart set sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. GB UNLISTED

1902 Indian with 13 stars. "ALASKA GOLD 1/4" inside wreath, reeded edge.
Brass copy of Hart's design.

1902 Indian with 13 stars. This obverse appears in the 1915 cased set, as illustrated by the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's).

1902 Indian with 13 stars. Similar to the cased set variety, but star positions differ.

Gould & Bressett list 5 varieties of 1/4 DWT miner Alaska tokens, with vague descriptions that are very difficult to use to match to the pieces illustrated below. Not only that, but I have 7 distinct varieties illustrated below.

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. GB168?. This obverse appears in the 1915 framed set, as shown in the lower illustration (sorry about the crummy photo. Set provided by Kagin's).

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. GB170?

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. GB number a mystery. This variety has been seen with an accompanying AYPE box (lower picture).
It appears that one of these two has been repaired at the center of the reverse. I suspect the top picture is the repaired one, but have retained both pictures because I am uncertain. The token in the lower picture is not flat & it appears to have a large delaminated area on the reverse. The token in the upper picture appears to have been struck from rusted dies (or the token has heat bubbles) and the shield has a peculiar luster.

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. Scan of token from the Golden State Collector. 9.6x0.55mm, 0.38 grams. I have one, but it is not as nice.

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. Obverse of #1.

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. Neither side matches any of the others.

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. Neither side matches any of the others.

Alaska 1/4 DWT, 1909 #8. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Pan Pac expo. Apparently the obverse of #1 with yet another reverse. Some moron tested the illustrated piece for gold with a touch stone, resulting in the flat spot on the obverse rim at K9.

Gould & Bressett list 7 varieties of 1/2 DWT miner Alaska tokens (9 shown)

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart GB164 (one seller calls this GB 162)

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart. GB159

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart. Obverse of #1, different reverse.

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart. Reverse of #3, different obverse.

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, this one has an accompanying AYPE box. Made by Hart. Obv similar to #4, but shovel much shorter, reverse has a huge bow with shield and fraction high.

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Made by Hart. Obv of #4, reverse of #1. Rather weakly struck on the rim, so that the normally long denticles do not show well. The reverse of this variety appears in the cased 1915 set, as shown in the lower illustration (access to set provided by Kagin's).

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Made by Hart. Pick far away from A. Double loop bow with no gap between loops. Scan of token from the Golden State Collector. 12.0x0.7mm, 0.77grams.

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Made by Hart. Shovel handle ends midway between 1 and 9, foot on or very near P. Splayed, flat bow, with shield and fraction high.

Alaska 1/2 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition. Made by Hart. Shovel handle ends under the middle of 9, foot very near P and centered over it. Miner standing very straight. No bow, fraction high. Neither die appears on number 1-8.

Gould & Bressett list 7 varieties of 1 DWT miner type Alaska tokens. They show two varieties dated 1901, but this is undoubtedly a typo.

Alaska 1 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart. The illustrated token is triple struck on both sides, with the denticles sharply doubled and appearing to be much finer pitch than what is normal. The tripling also causes extra outlines CCW and CW of the normal part of the design. Double jointed right arm, long pick. 10K gold, according to Hibler & Kappen. HK360 GB152. The obverse of this token appears in the cased 1915 set as shown in the lower illustration (access to set provided by Kagin's)

Alaska 1 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, this one has an accompanying AYPE box. Made by Hart. Right arm more natural, pick shorter than #1. GB154.

Alaska 1 DWT, 1909. A.Y.P.E. for Alaska Yukon-Pacific Exposition, but also known to have been sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart. Hat entirely under A. An example of this variety sold for $126.50 as lot 6607 in the Heritage CSNS 5/2000 signature sale. The same token was lot 3383 in the B&M November 1988 sale of Norweb. GB157. Same reverse as #1.

Alaska 1/4 1911, the so-called "Parka Head". Sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart as part of the "Coins of the Golden West" set. The 3 Parka Head tokens are the keys to assembling the set and highly sought after and valued. Burnie E9 and priced in his book higher than most of the denominated California Small Denomination Gold. This reverse appears in the 1915 cased set, as illustrated by the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's)

Alaska 1/2 1911, the so-called "Parka Head". Sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart as part of the "Coins of the Golden West" set. The 3 Parka Head tokens are the keys to assembling the set and highly sought after and valued. Burnie E6 and priced in his book higher than most of the denominated California Small Denomination Gold. This obverse appears in the 1915 cased set, as illustrated by the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's)

Alaska ONE 1911, the so-called "Parka Head". Sold by Farran Zerbe at the 1915 Panama Pacific exposition in SF. Made by Hart as part of the "Coins of the Golden West" set. The 3 Parka Head tokens are the keys to assembling the set and highly sought after and valued. Burnie E3? and priced in his book higher than most of the denominated California Small Denomination Gold. This reverse appears in the 1915 cased set, as illustrated by the lower picture (access to set provided by Kagin's)

Burnie lists 9 Parka Head varieties, with the above illustrated one as the rarest.
Burnie's token lists are often garbled and erroneous. However, this is the only variety list of Parks Head tokens that I know, so I will repeat it for reference. Note that the above piece has 11 stars with the head facing right and so does not match any of Burnie's descriptions correctly. It is worth noting that the Eskimo is facing left (head pointed to the viewer's right) so that terms like "head facing right" are ambiguous. However elsewhere in his text, well known tokens are described based on the viewer's perspective.

E1: ONE Head facing left 11 stars, heavy lettering
E2: ONE Head facing left 11 stars, thin lettering
E3: ONE Head facing right 10 stars, heavy lettering
E4: 1/2 Head facing left 11 stars, heavy lettering
E5: 1/2 Head facing left 11 stars, thin lettering
E6: 1/2 Head facing right 10 stars, heavy lettering
E7: 1/4 Head facing left 11 stars, heavy lettering
E8: 1/4 Head facing left 11 stars, thin lettering
E9: 1/4 Head facing right 10 stars, heavy lettering