(c.1880) Bronze Token Rulau TX-Au-5, Jules Bornefeld

Coin Details

Description

Bronze saloon token issued by Jules Albert Bornefeld (1846-1915) of Austin, Texas, circa 1880. Born April 24, 1846, the son of Prussian emigrant William Bornefeld, Jules moved to Austin in 1873 and operated the Palace Saloon and Billiard Parlor at 901 Congress Avenue, at the corner of East 9th Street, directly across from the State Capitol. The saloon served Parole rye whiskey and Tony Faust beer. Bornefeld continued operations until moving back to Victoria, Texas in 1897. The token was struck in multiple metals including bronze and zinc varieties, at 21mm diameter, and served as a trade token redeemable for drinks at the Palace Saloon. Bronze, 21mm. Late 19th century tokens document American commercial life during the Gilded Age, when rapid industrialization transformed the retail landscape. Authentication relies on die characteristics, metal composition analysis, and comparison with known genuine specimens.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Post-Reconstruction Texas merchant token from the state capital. Texas exonumia from the 1880s is actively collected, and Austin attributions are less common than those from larger commercial centers like San Antonio, Houston, or Galveston.

Cross References

Rulau TX-Au; PCGS #908223