Holabird to auction rare Nevada token collection online Nov. 6

Fred Holabird will return from retirement to sell the Jack Haddock Nevada Town Token Collection in an online-only auction on Nov. 6, with 250 lots of rare Nevada tokens offered through iCollector.com. The sale stands out for its mix of unique saloon, beer, paper and celluloid tokens tied to mining towns, ghost towns and Nevada history.

Why it matters: - The auction offers collectors a concentrated look at Nevada’s frontier business history through tokens tied to saloons, beer houses, toll roads and mining camps. - Many lots are described as unique or among only a few known, which can make the sale a reference point for the token market. - The collection also marks a return to the auction block for Fred Holabird after his self-imposed retirement.

What happened: - Fred Holabird will auction The Jack Haddock Nevada Town Token Collection on Friday, Nov. 6. - The sale is online-only and hosted exclusively on iCollector.com. - Bidding starts at 8 a.m. Pacific Time. - The catalog includes 250 lots of vintage and antique Nevada tokens. - Most lots are metal, with additional paper and celluloid plastic pieces. - Roughly half the tokens are described as unique or among just a few known.

The details: - The collection includes saloon tokens that often carried a 12 1/2-cent, or “one bit,” drink value. - Lot #285 is a circa-1909 to 1915 Springer & Bangs saloon token from Seven Troughs, Nevada, described as the only known token from that town and estimated at $2,000-$3,000. - Lot #336 is a half-moon-shaped C. M. Coddington beer token from Yerington, Nevada, described as a rare unique Western beer token with a $300-$500 estimate. - A dozen metal tokens carry high estimates of $4,000. - Lot #102 is a Womack & Sons token from Aura City, Nevada, described as exceedingly rare and possibly unique. - Lot #119 is a Saint Gray’s Shrine token from Bullfrog, Nevada and is described as the only token to carry the “Bullfrog, Nevada” name. - Lot #158 is an Antler Bar token from Ely City, Nevada, a name that briefly replaced East Ely before the post office rejected it. - Lot #178 is a Jefferson & Martell token from Glenbrook, Nevada, dated to the 1880s. - Lot #201 is a W.T.S. Warner token from Jack Rabbit, Nevada, with a “Good for 10c in trade” reverse. - Lot #214 is a Frank Dickinson Bar token from Leadville, Nevada, with a “Good for one drink or cigar” reverse. - Lot #254 is a token for The Canteen in Nelson, Nevada, an octagonal piece from a tiny gold camp active from 1905 to 1919. - Lot #271 is a Mazzeno & Datta token from Riepetown, Nevada, with a “Good for 12 1/2 c. in merchandise” obverse. - Lot #298 is a Union Bar token from Star Pointer, Nevada and is described as the only known token merchant for that ghost town. - Lot #320 is a Red Metal Saloon token from Wabuska, Nevada and may be unique. - Lot #327 is a Sauer & Kornmeyer token from Washoe City, Nevada and is one of just two known. - Lot #330 is a C.C.C. Co. 1915 token from Westgate, Nevada, with a “Good for 5 cents in trade” obverse. - Lot #191 is a paper trade token for the Hamilton Toll Road in Hamilton, Nevada, with a $2,000-$4,000 estimate. - Lot #284 is a yellow $1 Secret Canyon trade token near Eureka, Nevada, estimated at $1,500-$3,000. - Lot #145 is a yellow 50-cent Devil’s Gate Toll Road token, estimated at $1,200-$2,000. - Lot #103 is a scarce Aurora, Nevada celluloid token for Henry Lewis’s saloon, estimated at $600-$1,200. - Lot #188 is a pink celluloid token for the Palace Saloon in Goldfield, Nevada, estimated at $400-$800. - Lot #267 includes three paper trade tokens from The Northern in Rawhide, Nevada, estimated at $200-$500. - Lot #189 is a red celluloid plastic token for The Bank in Goldfield, Nevada, estimated at $200-$400.

Between the lines: - The sale reflects Holabird’s long-standing interest in Nevada mining camps, ghost towns and the everyday items that documented local commerce. - The range of materials, from metal to paper to celluloid, suggests the market values rarity and local provenance as much as condition. - Holabird’s return for a special collection, rather than a broad consignments business, signals a more selective approach after retirement.

What's next: - Holabird said he is not accepting random consignments, but he will consider special collections as time permits. - Future special sales may include the Tom Westervelt mining artifact and American mining stock collection, now slated for 2027. - More information is available through the auction listing and Holabird Western Americana Collections.

The bottom line: - The Nov. 6 sale pairs a rare Nevada token collection with a notable return by one of the field’s best-known auctioneers.