I haven't been on this list for some time, but sure could use your help now. A few years back I stumbled upon an old 'tax token' at my parents house. It says "Tax Commission State of Washington, Sales Tax Token. There is no year and the same information is repeated on each side. I vaguely remember using tax tokens when I was a kid in the late '40's and into the '50's growing up in Seattle. Can someone refresh my memory as to how they worked. What was there value? I seem to remember back when tax was 3 percent, but that's as far back as my memory goes. Was each token worth one cent? I would appreciate any information about this "old memory" so I can place the appropriate significance on this 'coin'. Many thanks, Bonnie Menzer Barnes Perth, Western Australia

----- Original Message ----- From: "Bonnie Barnes" <[email protected]> > A few years back I stumbled upon an old 'tax token' at my parents house. It > says "Tax Commission State of Washington, Sales Tax Token. There is no year > and the same information is repeated on each side. > Can someone refresh my memory as to > how they worked. What was there value? I seem to remember back when tax > was 3 percent, but that's as far back as my memory goes. Was each token > worth one cent? http://vip.hpnc.com/~johnoste/tax.htm http://www.surfinamma.com/Tokens.html http://www.bobscoins.com/taxtoken.htm

HI Ron, As I remember the first tax tokens were small paper slips worth 1/5 of a cent. The aluminum ones came after that and increased in value as the years went by. During WWII the aluminum was replaced with green plastic. Have a good one....Syd [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ron Bestrom" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 14, 2001 11:17 PM Subject: Re: Tax Tokens > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bonnie Barnes" <[email protected]> > > A few years back I stumbled upon an old 'tax token' at my parents house. > It > > says "Tax Commission State of Washington, Sales Tax Token. There is no > year > > and the same information is repeated on each side. > > Can someone refresh my memory as to > > how they worked. What was there value? I seem to remember back when tax > > was 3 percent, but that's as far back as my memory goes. Was each token > > worth one cent? > > http://vip.hpnc.com/~johnoste/tax.htm > http://www.surfinamma.com/Tokens.html > http://www.bobscoins.com/taxtoken.htm > > >

Regarding Washington State Tax tokens, of hand, does anyone know if they are they collectable or rare? I've seen one in my family somewhere( aluminum) but never thought about whether or not it was of any value. Barb Bothell, WA

Hi Barb, Don't get all excited. It appears as though these tokens might be worth $1.50 at best as they were produced in the billions. Ron Bestrom listed some Internet sites that give information on Tax Tokens if you want to follow this up. Let me know if you need this information as I still have his info and have looked at the sites. Tax tokens make a memorable souvenir though and they don't take up much space! Best regards, Bonnie ----- Original Message ----- From: Barb Thomas <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 9:56 AM Subject: Re: Tax Tokens-Are they rare? > Regarding Washington State Tax tokens, of hand, does anyone know if they are > they collectable or rare? I've seen one in my family somewhere( aluminum) > but never thought about whether or not it was of any value. > Barb > Bothell, WA >

On Sun, 15 Jul 2001, Bonnie Barnes wrote: > > A few years back I stumbled upon an old 'tax token' at my parents > house. It says "Tax Commission State of Washington, Sales Tax Token. > There is no year and the same information is repeated on each side. > > I vaguely remember using tax tokens when I was a kid in the late '40's > and into the '50's growing up in Seattle. Can someone refresh my memory > as to how they worked. What was there value? I seem to remember back > when tax was 3 percent, but that's as far back as my memory goes. Was > each token worth one cent? > During those years I lived in Missouri and our tax tokens were 10 for 1 cent. That means for each 10 cent candy bar we also paid 3 tokens for tax, or handed over 11 cents, and got 7 tokens in change. John *===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===* # John Wm Sloniker <[email protected]> Seattle, WA # *===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*

John I have some of the tax tokens from the 1940's. There were some in green plastic that was the same as the silver colored ones. If I remember right 3 tokens were equal to 1 cent in Washington State. Lois Pinelli Theodoratus [email protected] ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Wm Sloniker" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2001 12:07 AM Subject: Re: Tax Tokens > On Sun, 15 Jul 2001, Bonnie Barnes wrote: > > > > > A few years back I stumbled upon an old 'tax token' at my parents > > house. It says "Tax Commission State of Washington, Sales Tax Token. > > There is no year and the same information is repeated on each side. > > > > I vaguely remember using tax tokens when I was a kid in the late '40's > > and into the '50's growing up in Seattle. Can someone refresh my memory > > as to how they worked. What was there value? I seem to remember back > > when tax was 3 percent, but that's as far back as my memory goes. Was > > each token worth one cent? > > > > During those years I lived in Missouri and our tax tokens were 10 > for 1 cent. > > That means for each 10 cent candy bar we also paid 3 tokens for tax, > or handed over 11 cents, and got 7 tokens in change. > > John > *===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===* > # John Wm Sloniker <[email protected]> Seattle, WA # > *===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===*===* > > >

If my memory is correct, in the late 1930's the Washington sales tax rate was 3%. The state issued round aluminum tax tokens with a hole in the middle, presumably so they could collect tax on sales of less than 34 cents. They were worth 3 for a penny, so a ten cent purchase would cost you a dime and a token with no tax on purchases of less than ten cents. The tokens were often used as washers, at least in my household, because they had so little value. During the war when aluminum was scarce, the tokens were made of green plastic - without a hole. My view was that they were worthless, because you couldn't even use them as washers! Bus tokens also come to mind, as growing up in Seattle I rode the city buses a lot. They were the size of a dime, with an off-center D-shaped hole. They sold 3 for a quarter and you could ride the bus for either a dime or a token. Ralph Seefeld Archivist Genealogical Society of South Whidbey Island Bonnie Barnes wrote: > > I haven't been on this list for some time, but sure could use your help now. > > A few years back I stumbled upon an old 'tax token' at my parents house. It > says "Tax Commission State of Washington, Sales Tax Token. There is no year > and the same information is repeated on each side. > > I vaguely remember using tax tokens when I was a kid in the late '40's and > into the '50's growing up in Seattle. Can someone refresh my memory as to > how they worked. What was there value? I seem to remember back when tax > was 3 percent, but that's as far back as my memory goes. Was each token > worth one cent? > > I would appreciate any information about this "old memory" so I can place > the appropriate significance on this 'coin'. > > Many thanks, > Bonnie Menzer Barnes > Perth, Western Australia