Manitoulin Island Haweater Trade Tokens.

[Chako]

I just scored really big today, and it was from the same Pawn Shop that I found those Coin Sets of the World. Back in 1980, my family decided to summer vacation in Elliot Lake Ontario Canada. At the time, we lived in Cornwall Ontario. During that summer, we explored much of the North Eastern region of Ontario, and that included Manitoulin Island. That was when we first came across the Lyons Club Haweater Trade Token. My mother being big into coin and stamp collecting, bought what she could at the time. The following year, we moved to my current city. We would take the odd trip to Manitoulin Island for the coins. These trade tokens have the distinction of being the longest running series in Ontario. They started in 1968 and finished in 2008. I went back in recent years and was quite disapointed to find out they no longer make them. Their Tourist Center told me the guy who was responsible for them had passed away. In recent years, I was able to aquire more from an antique dealer on Manitoulin Island. As I type this, I probably should go upstairs to re-check what I currently have in these.

Today, I walked into the Pawn Shop and looked around with nothing really jumping at me. Something told me to take a closer look at their coin section. I saw 1 book with a price tag of $20 dollars with "manitoulin Island Tokens" written on the cover. I asked to look at it. Before I opened it, I asked the clerk if it was 20 dollars per coin. He told me it was for the book!!! I looked around and saw there were 2 more for 15 dollars each. I took all 3 home without even looking at the contents. These tokens are hard to find. I recall my father almost buying my mother a full collection of them for 300 dollars, and that was back in 1980. That covered everything issued up to I think 1978. It was expensive and he didn't get it.

I got home and quickly looked at what I got. I am over the moon. Here is a listing of what is found inside of these 3 books.

1970-71-73-77-79-81-82-83-84-85-86-87-88-89-90-91-92-93-94-95-96-97-98-99-00-01-02-03-04-05-06-07-08

On top of that, I also have the 2000-01-03-04-05 fancy square $20 dollar tokens.

I am thinking with what I already have, I just might have an almost complete collection year wise. These tokens were made in copper. silver plated ,and gold plated. There was also paper trade token money produced in the later years. I have a few of those upstairs.

So for 50 dollars I increased my Manitoulin Haweater collection big time (61 individual tokens). I did a bit of research and some of these tokens go for more than I paid for the whole thing.

Quick photo time...

20241002_172501A by Chako, on Flickr

20241002_172506A by Chako, on Flickr

20241002_172512A by Chako, on Flickr

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This was the end of the line in 2008.

20241002_172815A by Chako, on Flickr

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20241002_172836A by Chako, on Flickr

20241002_172840A by Chako, on Flickr

I am seriously thinking of buying this book, but that price is a bit high.

https://www.blurb.ca/b/11714470-haw-eater-coins-of-manitoulin


Today was a super fantastic day as this series has a bit of personal sentimentality tossed in for good measure.

[Chako]

Based on this, I didn't do that bad at all.

https://www.coinsandcanada.com/tokens-medals-trade-dollars.php?title=manitoulin-haweater-dollar&cat_id=2&id=1851

[AzteCypher]

 

[Chako]

I was able to get the other part this morning, and now it looks like I am now only missing 5 years.. For a number of years, these coins were offered in 3 finishes...gold plated, silver plated, and copper. I do not have all of those, and probably never will. Those 5 missing years, I will actively see if I can get at least 1.

[PitCarver]

Definitely an awesome find, especially with the sentimental value associated with them.

[Chako]

I ordered a new coin binder and some sheets of the right size to keep them all together. I will post photos if it all works out,

[Chako]

Thank you PitCarver. I just emailed the author of that book. I am dying to find out more about these and there is very little online. I was going to buy the book until the publishing company stated that a signature was needed. I live alone and work week days. That could be a problem for me.

[Farmer X]

Your pawn shops have cool stuff! I'm of half a mind to have you keep an eye out for automatic Seikos for me...

[Chako]

I have only ever seen 2, an Orange Monster, and a Yellow Frankenstein, and I bought both.

[Chako]

The binder came in, but I absolutely hate the pages I bought for the tokens. Worst design I have ever seen with a strap and flap that is difficult to open and close. I had to use tweezers like a darning needle to get them open. Closing them under the strap is another thing entirely. So I bought better pages and more 40mm cardboard coin holders from Amazon.

[Chako]

I figured I could start taking out the tokens while I am waiting for the better pages and supplies to arrive, I didn't notice that the previous collector used only half of a coin holder and used tape to hold the coin in place. Not sure why this was done. Maybe he/she ran out of money or something, I have no clue, What I do know is that the adhesive on the tap is not good for coins. So far, I have only tackled one of the smaller booklets and so far, no issues with removing the coins from the tape. I did notice some slight discolouration and was able to gently buff the coins using a microfiber cloth. So far so good.

I also removed the few coins I installed in those horrendous swear inducing sheets. I am now ready for the new pages and coin holders to arrive to begin installation.

Here is my tracking sheet created when I combined what I already had and the new stuff. I also marked the type as well as the quantity. Please note that what I marked as silver could very well be nickel as well. Copper could also be bronze. I do not know enough to accurately denote what the coins are made of.

20241003_171159A by Chako, on Flickr

Here are the only 4 bills I was able to get on trips to Manitoulin Island for those years. We were surprised they made paper trade money as well as metal trade tokens. I am sure I do not have the full set of these. I have never seen these anywhere else other then when we would make the trip to the Island. I was able to find some information online and marked the edition of the bills on my master copy listed above.

20241005_132526A by Chako, on Flickr

20241005_132557A by Chako, on Flickr

20241005_132533A by Chako, on Flickr

20241005_132600A by Chako, on Flickr

20241005_132539A by Chako, on Flickr

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20241005_132548A by Chako, on Flickr

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I cannot imagine anyone using tape like this in contact with the coin. I think I will take far better care of these than the previous collector. 

20241006_075157A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_075221A by Chako, on Flickr

So far I have been very fortunate. With the help of a microfiber cloth, I have been able to remove any traces the tape has left behind.

20241006_075628A by Chako, on Flickr

Now onto the current collection pages I just received. The flaps are a major pain to open and more so to close them. There is a strap that goes over the flap and I find struggling for a few minutes to get each one locked in is just not worth it. I bought proper coin holder pages that will work far better than this system. I also bought 40mm coin holders as I found the loose coins in these larger pockets did not work for me as shown here, That plus when I first saw the new collection, I assumed most of them were in their proper card holder coin mounts, I was wrong.

20241006_075349A by Chako, on Flickr

Some photos of a few tokens/

20241006_075302A by Chako, on Flickr

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20241006_080315A by Chako, on Flickr

This one was already in my collection, which is why it is in a coin holder.

20241006_080541A by Chako, on Flickr

I have no clue who Eligi Consultants are (possibly those who made the tokens for the Manitoulin Lyons Club), but these come in rather nice vinyl folders with good into such as how many were made.

20241006_080609A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_080630A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_080648A by Chako, on Flickr

I also have a few in the new collection addition that have broken outer casings. I will replace these with the cardboard coin holders.

20241006_080658A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_080739A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_080752A by Chako, on Flickr

This one appears to a rarer coin.

20241006_080826A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_080904A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_080911A by Chako, on Flickr

[Chako]

Taking photos and really looking at them closely is teaching me a few things.

1. The 1968 was a stand alone trade token from Little Current Manitoulan Island and is not part of the Haweater trade token collection. It started it all I think.
2. The paper money were issued from the Tourism Association and not from the Lyons Club that did the metal trade tokens.
3. Eligi Consultants from Nepean Ontario appears to have taken over production at some point. I noticed these coins feature the Eligi marking and appears to come in a vinyl folder with a certificate of authenticity that also tells you the quantity produced. Older trade tokens usualy came as is, or in a plastic capsule.
4. It would appear each date had a variety of metals used and possibly in different quantities.

[Chako]

A few more photos of some of the coins.

20241006_190842A by Chako, on Flickr

20241006_190852A by Chako, on Flickr

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[Chako]

Got everything moved over to the collections permanent home.

20241007_183224A by Chako, on Flickr

20241007_215643A by Chako, on Flickr

20241007_215718A by Chako, on Flickr

20241007_215733A by Chako, on Flickr

20241007_215741A by Chako, on Flickr

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[pfrsantos]

 

[Farmer X]

 

[Chako]

Thanks. 

[Chako]

I went to the same pawn shop to really take a deep look at their coin section. I spied 2 coin books with a 15 dollar price tag on each book. I asked to look at those and could not believe what I saw, I am rarely lucky and more so twice over. Inside each book were Manitoulin Haweate Trade Tokens that ran from 1969 to 1988. I bought those in a heart beat. I now have all years represented as I was missing the 69 and a few of the 70s. Not anymore. Somone told me on Facebook that the 1974 sold for 200 dollars recently. I now have 3 of those in my collection. Still missing 2 20 dollar tokens and a few of the paper script. I was also told that the 1968 runs at 1000 dollar so I think I won't actively look for that one as it was not a Lyons Club token.

20241009_161602A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_161726A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_161907A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_161914A by Chako, on Flickr

Just happy to get the 69 and the missing 70s. 

[Chako]

Here are the coins found in the one booklet,

20241009_204708A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_204714A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_204725A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_205227A by Chako, on Flickr

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20241009_205736A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_205740A by Chako, on Flickr

20241009_205746A by Chako, on Flickr

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20241009_205821A by Chako, on Flickr

[Chako]

My last visit dried up all of their Manitoulin Haweater Tokens. I found these mixed grab bags for a good price.

20241011_155541A by Chako, on Flickr

20241011_155552A by Chako, on Flickr

One even sported a Manitouling Paper Script from 1985.

20241011_160006A by Chako, on Flickr

20241011_160028A by Chako, on Flickr

All the other 3 mixed packs contained a Canadian Dollar bill that was around when I was much younger. I always thought the 70s series of Canadian paper money was the pretiest.

20241011_160621A by Chako, on Flickr

20241011_161123A by Chako, on Flickr

20241011_161603A by Chako, on Flickr

Each grab bag did have a few more Manitoulin Trade Tokens for me to gobble up. Got a new paper script, so well worth it. Don't know much about the other pieces. Some appear to be quite old. Even a Spanish Piece of Eight reproduction piece thrown in there for good measure,