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Obverse Design
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Indian Bust facing left with the legend "WOODEN NICKEL" above. Circle around
the Indian Bust and legend. This design is apparently the
"1. Indian head without U.S.A." design on the Old Time Wooden Nickel Company's
museum page.
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Reverse Design
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Legend "LINCOLNS INDIANS" above. Legend "WORLD CROWNS" below.
The center has the name "C. McNeese" and address "Box 915 Albrook, AFB
Ph. 83-6209 Canal Zone".
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Color
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Black print on natural wood.
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Material
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Wood.
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Weight
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2.56 grams.
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Size and Shape
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Round, 37.5 mm in diameter.
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Dates Issued
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1964.
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Issuer
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Clarence McNeese, a coin dealer based in the Canal Zone. Since he gave a phone
number and a postal box number only, he must have operated out of his home.
The dates he ran this business are unknown to me, but include 1964 when he issued
these wooden nickels. His specialties were Lincoln pennies, Indian head pennies
and world crowns, as per the wooden nickel. I recently heard that he is living
in Panama, and has a locksmith/coin shop located in Balboa at the Masonic Temple.
Please
e-mail me if you have anything to add to this information.
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Mintage
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500 were initially made, of which 100 were destroyed for poor quality and
the remaining 400 distributed as business cards.
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Rarity
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Scarce.
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Manufacturer
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Old Time Wooden Nickel Company.
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Other Catalog Numbers
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Asociación Numismático's FM-1, Henkle's CZ-72.
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Varieties
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This is the only known variety.
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Function
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Used as a business cards by Clarence McNeese.
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Population Count
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Seven specimens in collector hands are known to me.
Recent sales include:
- Private sale February 2003, asking price $5.
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