An article appearing in the current issue of Numismatic News (April 17th issue) features a large well-illustrated full-page spread on Casino Tokens of Caribbean that continues for another half-page (pages 26 & 28). The article focuses on the growing interest in tokens and is written by Russell Rulau, a well-respected Krause Publications columnist, author of catalogs, and dealer in foreign coins, tokens, medals.

Mr. Rulau's opening paragraph goes like this:

"Collecting of the metallic gaming tokens of the Caribbean Sea area has apparently been given an uplift since the appearance in 2000 of the second edition of my catalog Latin American Tokens, if letters addressed to me at Krause Publications are a true indicator."

Mr. Rulau goes on to describe the history of the issuance of these tokens by the Franklin Mint who produced $1 and 50¢ tokens for the Bahamas, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Antigua and other active casinos beginning in 1966-1968. By 1970 much of that business had been taken over by Canada's Sherritt Mint and other producers whose costs to the casinos were lower, said Rulau.

Rulau goes on to mention..., "Today, these Franklin Mint struck metal tokens are rising in desireability and value among collectors of gambling tokens. Such collectors have their own clubs and publications and their number seems to grow at every coin convention."

The rest of the article is too lengthly to re-type in this post, but I thought that some of you might be interested in the subject matter and if there is a near-by coin shop in your area you could probably pick up a copy of this excellent weekly publication locally.