1990 Hawaiian Trade Dala

Coin Details

Description

The 1990 Trade Dala is a modern Hawaiian trade token reviving the traditional Dala denomination, which was the Hawaiian transliteration of Dollar used during the Kingdom period. This piece was produced during the early 1990s as the Hawaiian numismatic market expanded beyond precious metal commemoratives to include more affordable trade tokens and currency-themed pieces. The Trade Dala concept draws on Hawaii's rich tradition of merchant tokens and trade pieces dating back to the plantation era, when private tokens issued by sugar and pineapple plantations served as company scrip redeemable at plantation stores. By the 1990s, these historical tokens had become highly collectible, and modern trade dala pieces were produced both as collectibles and as novelty currency accepted at participating Hawaiian businesses. The term Dala has particular significance in Hawaiian numismatic terminology. During the Kingdom period, the dollar denomination was rendered as Akahi Dala (One Dollar) on official coinage, and the word has been adopted as a generic term for Hawaiian dollar-equivalent tokens and commemoratives in the modern era.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce. Trade tokens were produced in somewhat larger quantities than precious metal issues but remain collectible within the Hawaiian numismatic specialty.

Cross References

PCGS #489276