1891 Hawaiian Plantation Token - Kahului, 15 Cents

Coin Details

Description

The Kahului Railroad Company 15-cent token is one of the most unusual denominations in American numismatics, with no parallel in United States coinage. This odd-value token was carefully calibrated to the Kahului company store's pricing structure, corresponding to specific commodity prices such as a pound of salt fish, a measure of rice, or a packet of tobacco. The 15-cent denomination occupied a practical middle ground between the 10-cent base token and the 20-cent piece, providing flexibility in making change for plantation store transactions. At the standard 27mm diameter shared across the Kahului series, this token was readily identifiable by its denomination marking alone. The Kahului Railroad Company's store in the harbor town of Kahului was one of the largest retail operations on Maui, stocking provisions imported from Honolulu and the mainland alongside locally produced goods. Workers from the surrounding Wailuku, Paia, and Spreckelsville plantations all patronized the Kahului store, making its tokens among the most widely circulated in the Hawaiian Islands. The 15-cent denomination reflects the practical economics of plantation life, where pricing ensured workers spent their full scrip allocation at the company store rather than accumulating credit.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The 15-cent denomination is among the less common values in the Kahului series.

Cross References

PCGS #600530; NGC #765679; Medcalf-Russell Hawaiian Money; Rulau-Fuld Hawaii listings