Monday, June 30, 2014

Barbara Apotheke 1 Treue Taler token

Barbara Apotheke or Barbara Pharmacy is a German pharmacy that used private tokens. From what I can tell these tokens were issued in 2013 and given out when you shopped at the pharmacy. You could then collect them and redeem them in store for items that did not require a prescription.

50 Jahre BARBARA APOTHEKE oHG bärenstark für Ihre Gesundheit Alsdorf (50 years BARBARA PHARMACY oHG strong as an ox for their health Alsdorf)

TREUE TALER Danke für Ihren Besuch (FAITHFUL TALER
Thank You for Visiting)
Other plastic tokens or paper coupons also were issued since 2008. For their 50th anniversary they issued several metal tokens that could be collected or saved to buy more stuff.

https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.barbara-apotheke-herten.de%2F

This is a thick and heavy token, probably nickel plated steel. Using tokens redeemable only at one place was common throughout history. That idea was changed into coupons and now reward points. Producing coins is a bit more expensive but it is a win-win for the store. If lost the store loses nothing and if redeemed the store can reuse the token. Setting expiration dates is as easy as posting a sign, "Redeem before ...".

I found this one in another take a penny leave a penny tray, I left a quarter in its place. I do not know if it is still redeemable or why someone left it behind but I have a theory. It could be that the original owner had carried this heavy coin since visiting the German pharmacy last year. Knowing they would never go back, at least not soon they dumped the coin hoping someone else would appreciate it.

Here are the stats for this token...
Type / Country: 1 Treue Taler - Barbara Apotheke / Germany
Year: Unknown
Mintage: Unknown
Metal: Unknown (Magnetic)
Diameter: 0.90625 inch Thickness: 0.109375 inches Weight: 8.75 grams
Value: $5.00 in circulated Very-Fine
Obverse Writing: 50 Jahre BARBARA APOTHEKE oHG bärenstark für Ihre Gesundheit Alsdorf
Reverse Writing: TREUE TALER Danke für Ihren Besuch

If you know anything else about this token please leave a comment below.

Do you have a token and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you.

2 dollars worth, for Comments/Questions click here.:

Aussie Kid said...

Not about the token but I have bought some interesting coins.

In Australia (as you probably know) we have the Royal Australian Mint. Recently they have made a lot of WW1-WW2 related coins (or just war related in general) to commemorate the Centenary of the ANZACS (Australia and New Zealand Army Corps) and the design of this particular coin was centered around the Victoria cross.

(if you dont know what this is here: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/vic_cross/)

The coin is incredible in that on the coin (which upon my inspection and reading of its stats) is VERY wide (almost 6 centimetres) and VERY heavy (85 grams). Whats more incredible is that the coin contains in TINY writing (not microscopic you can still read them) the names of all the 100 Australian Victoria cross recipients. What a coincidence! (there are only 100 its not some marketing thing).

Pictures of the coin here
:http://world.mintnewsblog.com/2014/04/2014-victoria-cross-for-australia-coins/

This coin was interesting as its 5000 potential buyers were picked by ballot. (sold out sadly) They were $100 AUS plus $12 AUS australia wide postage. Not too bad for a limited edition coin with a unique piece of history.

By some stroke of like I own two of them! :) Yes me and 5 other friends / family entered the ballot and 2 of the 6 entries successful (not mine funnily enough). I bought one of them and the other was a gift from the receiver. At first the market was unstable for these coins (crazy bidding wars on ebay and people plying $500+ for them) but it seems to have died down. I have chosen to keep the RAM packaging.


I even went as far as keeping one of the 2 coins in its vacuum sealed Mint post package (the one with the lower numbered certificate which was marked on the box)

And this leads me to my question:

that apparently mint packaging helps you sell your coin more? or is this a coin collecting urban myth? (I don't mean the coins box I mean the postage package)

Thanks :)

Man said...

that apparently mint packaging helps you sell your coin more? or is this a coin collecting urban myth? (I don't mean the coins box I mean the postage package)

It does add value, but not as much value as having the coin graded. I would say on average it adds 5-10% more value.

By the way congrats that coin looks cool. Such a low mintage find is always great.