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V18 2015 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 18, Number 8, February 22, 2015, Article 21

MORE ON ORPHANAGE TOKENS

Johns Hopkins Colored Orphan Asylum token obverse Johns Hopkins Colored Orphan Asylum token reverse

Russ Sears writes:

In answer to your question about orphan asylum tokens, attached are obverse and reverse scans of my piece, one cent, from the Johns Hopkins Colored Orphan Asylum. It is about 19mm, brass.

In 1867, Johns Hopkins incorporated the Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Johns Hopkins Colored Orphan Asylum. The university opened in 1876 with the orphan asylum opening around the same time. It took until 1889 to open the hospital.

The orphan asylum continued in operation until the 1920's or 30's when it closed. We don't know why it closed. The tokens were used to teach the children about money. Denominations of 5 and ten cents have been know and are even more rare than the one cent which is rare. I purchased a five about 30 years ago in an auction, but it was too worn for me to keep.

Paul Cunningham writes:

In regard to orphan tokens, and thanks to some of my Pittsburgh and area friends, there are some tokens discussing or commemorating orphan camps or training centers of some such which were (1) supported financially by the French after WWI and (2) located in the Pittsburgh area! Totally weird!

Larry Dziubek purchased these from Paul, and sent these images. -Editor

Pittsburgh School Farm for WWI Orphans medal Pittsburgh School Farm for WWI Orphans medal reverse
Pittsburgh School Farm for WWI Orphans medal

Neat - I never heard of such a thing. Larry also sent these. -Editor

Odd Fellows Home token Pittsburgh Odd Fellows Home token Pittsburgh reverse
Odd Fellows Home for Widows and Orphans, Pittsburgh, PA

David Powell writes:

In response to your request last week for some more orphanage-related tokens, herewith a couple. There are plenty of online references to the history of both issuers.

The older one is reminiscent of British school reward tokens c.1820-1850, with the "10" on the back indicating a number of merit points; although often they are smaller, and of lighter-coloured brass, than this 22mm piece. The larger and more modern piece is from the 1920s or 1930s, with the horseshoe/good luck design hinting strongly at 1933-35. Norwood is a South London suburb.

London orphan Asylum London orphan Asylum reverse

Jewish Orphanage obverse Jewish Orphanage

Thanks, everyone! This is an interesting group of tokens and medals. See the next article for an interesting follow-on from David Powell. -Editor

To read the earlier E-Sylum article, see:
WAYNE'S NUMISMATIC DIARY: FEBRUARY 15, 2015 (www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n07a12.html)



Wayne Homren, Editor

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To submit items for publication in The E-Sylum, write to the Editor at this address: whomren@gmail.com

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