Market Watch

This market watch covers ebay auctions between October 6 and October 12. It was a moderately active week of trading cash for tokens, as 36 CTs found new collectors.
     There were two D CTs sold this week, but no HD CTs to report. The majority of CTs sold changed hands for under $20 with eight more selling over that amount but under $50. Four pieces were bid higher, including two that were in the Desired (D) category (over $75). These numbers underscore the affordability of CTs in general -- it is a ripe collecting field with many opportunities.
     The top two CTs for the week were sold on October 9th as part of a group of 16 pieces auctioned by cobwrightfortishe. His auctions tend to run every nine days or so, and they always include interesting CTs -- many of them in pleasing condition (or else, rare).
     Number one on the D list was a "pillow-shaped" CT from Linlithgow in Lothians with the full communion event date of 31 Jul. 1832 (B4283). It is essentially a rectangle with scalloped sides, curving inward. Several odd shaped CTs have come from this shire (and a few other midland regions) starting in the 1830s; most of them are eight-sided or "starfish" pieces -- this one from Linlithgow is a bit more unusual. As such, the CT attracted 6 bidders, entering 7 bids, to produce a hammer price of $89. The token had smooth surfaces, deeply toned with some lighter spots. Here is the link: Pillow shaped CT from Linlithgow.
     The other hotly contested CT was a broad square dated 1796 from Lochwinnock in Renfrew (B4408) that attracted 8 bids from 6 bidders. This CT was adorned with scrollwork and script lettering -- a regional variation that appeared in this region for a short period of time (mentioned in previous postings). The scrollwork designs are probably the work of a single engraver, as they are very similar. This specimen had a dark patina with slightly lighter highlights on the devices. I pictured one of these CTs in a posting last July.
     Another odd token deserves mention. This one sold with only one bid for $27. It was a silver CT with a copper plug dated 1730. Yes, silver! The seller -- a dealer from Virginia -- speculated that the silver composition represented the body, and the copper represented the blood of Christ. This round CT came from Cologne, Germany -- it is not cataloged in Burzinski. It came from the estate of Rev. William Sengel who was a paster at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House in Alexandria, VA. Is it a CT or some other kind of church token? Either way, a fascinating piece -- Bravo to the buyer!