-40%

Vintage Mississippi One Mill Tax Tokens, Lot of Two, Circa 1930s

$ 6.04

Availability: 100 in stock
  • Circulated/Uncirculated: Circulated
  • Modified Item: No
  • All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States

    Description

    In order to ease Mississippi’s million deficit, Governor Martin Connor (1891-1950) proposed and the legislature passed the state’s first sales tax in 1932. Beginning in 1936, merchants used tax tokens to make change for the newly levied sales tax. The first ones were one-mill and five-mill tokens made of aluminum and brass. However, due to the shortage of metal during World War II, the material used to make the tokens was changed from metal to fiber and then later to plastic. The state abolished the use of tax tokens in 1952.
    These tokens are made of aluminum, and they are about 22mm diameter. They have a square hole in the middle that is about 3.5mm on each side. According to some information on the Internet, this size hole was made in 36% of the tokens issued.
    The obverse side of the tokens has two large-size numerals one near the perimeter (one numeral at the left and one numeral at the right). By the top perimeter is "Tax Commission Mississippi". By the bottom perimeter is "Sales Tax Token".
    The reverse side of the tokens has two large-size numerals one near the perimeter (one numeral at the left and one numeral at the right). By the top perimeter is "To Make Change For Correct". By the bottom perimeter is "Sales Tax Payment".
    One token is in very good condition, with crisp impressions and little wear and corrosion due to aging and use. The other token is in very good condition on the obverse. The reverse, however, has some "washing out" of the lettering to the above right of the middle circle, and most of "Sales Tax" below the circle. The remainder of that reverse appears to be well made during the minting process. Please see the photos.