Description: Here is a very nice and certainly rare old merchant token made of brass, I believe, in quite splendid condition overall, measuring app. 1 & 1/4" across, with a reeded edge. This outstanding agriculture-related piece shows just minimal wear, with only some tiny imperfections nothing overly distracting, and it has acquired a somewhat dark toning over the last 110 or so years - I have not cleaned or altered its appearance in any manner, however, and three of the pictures have been "enhanced" for clarity. The company was founded by H. S. Swanson in Shenandoah in 1903, and it was at the location until 1911, when my research indicates it moved to Marseilles, Iowa from 1911 until 1913. I have not seen another of these tokens in many years of collecting, but there are similar pinback buttons made by the company during those years, with basically the same design. The button format allowed the company to be a little more colorful and elaborate, depicting the machine flying over a small village which included a church, and the pin was vivid enough to show the driver's yellow shoes. No less an authority than Hake's has stated that pin is "among the best and rarest of all farms equipment buttons", with examples selling over $200 years ago - surely the token is rarer. The obverse pictures a balloon fantasy of a driver flying his disc cultivator airborne with the aid of a balloon, and "The Flying Swede" is above, with "Swanson Mfg. Co. - Shenandoah, Iowa." at the bottom. The reverse reads "You Don't Have To Worry About The Result When You Are Selling The Flying Swede - Swanson Mfg. Co. - Shenandoah, Iowa.", with a minuscule "Mfg. By Moores Partner, Chicago" along the bottom. Fantastic! $200.
Price: 200 USD
Location: Cicero, Illinois
End Time: 2025-02-08T04:23:57.000Z
Shipping Cost: 12 USD
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