ALGERIA (probably) token (1920s-50s)
$175.00
ALGERIA, token, no date (1920s-50s), Obverse: CAFÉ MAURE DU CAMP N. BOUBAGRA, Reverse: 30c, aluminum, 26mm, 1.35g, I found no record online, and choose to think that this is very rare, crude, scruffy VF
1 in stock
Description
There is a town named Batna in Algeria a bit inland from the coast. Cafe Maure is currently the name of restaurants in at least two cities in Algeria (not Batna) and several more cities in Morocco. I found two references to the name Boubagra, both related to Algeria, not apparently connected with the person who made this token. But I have not contacted the real person referred to in one of the results of my Google search. The only online references I’ve found for this token have been generated by my activities. I have not found any printed references. If you have information for me please get in touch.
A token is used like a coin but is not a coin. Rather, it stands for a coin without the value of the coin. Maybe its copper, but says its value is the same as a silver coin. Usually tokens were made privately, but sometimes governments got involved.
The word “exonumia” is used to describe all kinds of things that are “like” coins but are not coins. I wrote a blog post on that subject. Basic categories: 1. used like a coin but not issued by a national government, 2. looks like a coin but not made for spending, 3. other things that we are interested in.
