1891 Hawaiian Plantation Token - Kahului, 25 Cents

Coin Details

Auction Record

$11,163 XF40 08-10-2016 Heritage Auctions

Description

The Kahului Railroad Company 25-cent token represents the most familiar denomination in the Hawaiian plantation series, corresponding to the standard American quarter dollar. At this value, a plantation worker could make substantial purchases at the Kahului store: several days' worth of rice, a length of cloth for clothing, or imported canned goods. The quarter-dollar denomination was the most heavily used in the Kahului series, as it aligned with mainland American pricing conventions that increasingly influenced Hawaiian commerce. The 27mm brass token maintained the uniform size standard of the entire Kahului series, which simplified handling and storage for both workers and store clerks. The Kahului Railroad Company's quarter token has become one of the most recognizable Hawaiian plantation pieces among modern collectors, frequently appearing as a representative example of the plantation token system in references and museum exhibitions. By 1891, the Kahului Railroad Company had expanded from its original function as a sugar transportation enterprise into a full-service commercial operation, and its tokens circulated across a broad swath of central Maui's plantation belt.

Rarity Notes

Scarce but available. The 25-cent denomination is among the most frequently encountered Kahului tokens, though quality examples with full detail remain sought after.

Cross References

PCGS #600536; NGC #15524; Medcalf-Russell Hawaiian Money; Rulau-Fuld Hawaii listings