(c.1860) Token $20 Compos. Spiel-Munze Brass 34mm Strasburger & Nuhn Gaming Gold Double Eagle

Coin Details

Description

This brass gaming token measuring 34 millimeters from circa 1860 is a Spiel-Munze (German for "play money" or "game coin") produced by Strasburger and Nuhn, German manufacturers who supplied gaming tokens to the American market. The token imitates a $20 gold double eagle in general appearance, using the double eagle's size and gold-like brass composition to create a convincing gaming piece. Spiel-Munze tokens were used in card games, board games, and gambling establishments where realistic-looking coin substitutes added to the gaming experience. Strasburger and Nuhn were among several German firms that produced gaming tokens for export to the United States, capitalizing on America's appetite for gambling accessories during the antebellum and Civil War periods. The 34mm diameter closely approximates the 34mm diameter of genuine U.S. double eagles, and the brass composition provided the appropriate gold-like appearance. The "Compos." (Composition) designation in the token's title refers to the metal alloy used. These gaming tokens are collected both as exonumia and as artifacts of American gaming history, representing the elaborate culture of card games and table gambling that was a central feature of social life in nineteenth-century America, from frontier saloons to urban gentlemen's clubs.

Rarity Notes

Strasburger & Nuhn Spiel-Munze tokens are moderately scarce. The $20 denomination gaming pieces are among the most popular sizes with collectors due to their impressive dimensions.

Cross References

PCGS #805728; Spiel-Munze (gaming token); Strasburger & Nuhn, Germany; Gold Double Eagle imitation