As some of you know I visit the city of Cleveland a couple times of year. Most of you are probably asking why in the world…? To see family of course and truthfully, nothing beats some Midwest vibes.
I was out there a couple of weeks ago and I was lucky enough to be able detect the house (yards) I was staying at. The house was built in the late 50s and was such a nice change from New York City parks full of bottle caps and pull tabs. I found the occasional nail or roofing material but most targets were coins or relics, dating from the 1930s to the ’70s. This post is about one of those cool finds.
I thought at first it was a quarter but after a little “pants rubbing,” I was able to see a some details and tell it was a token. One I’d seen on some other YouTube videos. It depicted former President Grover Cleveland and dates to the 1930s!
After some more cleaning and Googling, I was able to find out that it’s a token from the Cracker Jack snack! More specifically, from May of 1933 to May of 1934. The Cracker Jack Company produced 31 different tokens of former presidents, with FDR the last (current) president. It was part of the Cracker Jack Mystery Club and when one joined, you got a certificate and a gift.
Quick history on the Cracker Jack Company, the delicious caramel popcorn and peanut combo we’ve all enjoyed since we were kids. I knew it was an old company but little did I know it’s over 100 years old, first started in the late 1800s (in Chicago). Their slogan is “the more you eat, the more you want” and the phrase “crackerjack” at the time meant great quality.
I love getting the opportunity to search homes and look forward to my next chance. I’m always looking for my next permission, reach out if you’re interested!
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