Tokens, Medals & Exonumia
Discover the world beyond coins — Civil War tokens, trade tokens, US Mint medals, challenge coins, elongated pennies, and other collectible exonumia.
8 parts · Free to read
What Is Exonumia? Tokens, Medals & Beyond
The fascinating world of "non-coins" — defining exonumia, why collectors are drawn to tokens and medals, and how exonumia connects to broader numismatics.
Civil War Tokens: History & Collecting Guide
When coins vanished during the Civil War — patriotic tokens, store cards, 10,000+ known varieties, and how to start collecting these affordable historical artifacts.
Trade Tokens & Good-For Pieces
Merchant-issued currency — saloon tokens, company scrip, dairy tokens, and the "Good For" pieces that tell stories of local commerce across America.
US Mint Medals & Congressional Gold Medals
Official medals from the US Mint — presidential medals, Congressional Gold Medals, Indian Peace medals, and the artistic medals program that showcases America's finest engravers.
Challenge Coins: Military Tradition to Modern Collecting
From military origins to mainstream collecting — the history of challenge coins, military unit coins, law enforcement issues, and the modern custom challenge coin market.
Elongated Coins, Wooden Nickels & Novelty Pieces
Fun and affordable collecting — penny machines at tourist spots, wooden nickel traditions, encased coins, and other novelty numismatic items with surprising depth.
Transit Tokens, Tax Tokens & Other Specialty Items
Functional tokens that served as money — subway and bus tokens, sales tax tokens from the Depression era, OPA ration tokens, and other specialty categories.
Finding & Buying Exonumia at Coin Shows
Exonumia at coin shows — which dealers specialize in tokens and medals, what to look for, pricing guidelines, and building relationships with exonumia specialists.
Ready to Find Your Next Show?
Browse hundreds of upcoming coin shows across every state, with dates, venues, and contact details.