To Ron, Syd, Patty, John, and especially Ralph...for their knowledge and memories, Thanks to all of you for your replies. If anyone else has information and wants to share it I would still like to hear from you. I remember and have one of the aluminum tokens, but can't seem to even remember the green ones. I do remember the bus tokens you mentioned Ralph, but not until you mentioned them. Apparently only twelve states used tax tokens and the reasoning was to compensate for the loss of revenue accrued in property taxes. During and after the Depression, state revenue dropped away dramatically as people could not afford to pay their property taxes. To get around this (and to make people 'pay as you go' I guess), the tax tokens were introduced ......and produced in the billions. Again, thanks to all of you for providing the memories. I have a 'worthless' tax token in my possession.........AND I'm going to keep it! Best regards, Bonnie ----- Original Message ----- From: Ralph Seefeld <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, July 16, 2001 1:41 AM Subject: Re: Tax Tokens > 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 >