I just read an interesting article about the coins used in leper colonies in the early 20th century. I know a few members of this site have an interest in these coins.
Sad to say but my collection of leprosarium coins has stalled. I've picked much of the low hanging fruit from Cullion Island, Columbia etc. so now I'm at that point where it's getting hard to find coins without a price tag in the $100s. The bright spot on the horizon is that they are, as the article states, exclusively struck in cheap materials and with very poor quality control. Their value is not immediately apparent so there's always the possibility of finding one here and there along with the innumerable state sales tax tokens.
I have as follows -
Columbia Papal Moneda
1 Peso 1907 Columbia "Lazereto" issues 1921
1 Centavo
2 Centavos
5 Centavos
10 Centavos
50 Centavos Philippines Bureau of Health (Aluminum type)
5 Centavos 1913
10 Centavos 1913
20 Centavos 1920
1 Peso 1913 Philippines Bureau of Health (Copper Nickel type)
1 Peso 1925 Venezuela - Isla De Providencia
0.05 Bolivar 1939
Not a great haul after several years but I'm curious to know if anyone else has had more success. If anyone has any coins not listed above to exchange I'd very much like to hear from you too.
Despite the obvious frustrations and the near certainty that at this point it's impossible for anyone to put together a complete collection, these humble tokens remain among my favorites. Another US half dollar or a UK florin.... that's nice I reckon, but even the mere prospect of getting a new leper colony issue is exciting to me. I'm going to be at the mailbox waiting every evening.
While they are not much to look at, in fact the early aluminum types are usually poorly struck, worn and ugly, their story is what makes them appealing. I'm not any kind of bleeding heart trying to view events of 100 years ago through a 2018 lens. The system of leper colonies was a genuine attempt to address both the needs of the afflicted and the fears of everyone else. The chance to live out your life with some dignity, in often beautiful surroundings, amongst people who understood you and didn't flinch every time they looked at you, maybe even serve your community in some role..... I'd take that over being forced to sit on a street corner begging for charity. While the need these coins served was a tragic one, it gives me some hope for our species knowing that an attempt was made to address the problem in an imaginative and humane manner instead of indulging in 21st century style virtue signaling.
Leper colony tokens, yeah I love them.
Non illegitimis carborundum est. Excellent advice for all coins.
Make Numismatics Great Again!
Last year I found one, 50ct Columbia'Lazaretto'1921, on the street in Holland here... I really can not
imagine how it came there, waiting for me to pick it up, and in very acceptable condition too.
