Exonumia is a title coined to cover all the things that have been and are being used for money in the United states that were not issued by the federal government.

Store tokens - a piece of metal, wood or plastic- that is good for something - are examples of collectible exonumia.  Medals made for significant events also fall in to exonumia as they were not used for money.

Where the fun comes in is the search.  Collectors of exonumia have been known to search for years for a certain piece they know exisits but can't find to buy.  Since there is little monetary value to most exonumia-the first piece of wooden money made in the United States was printed in Tenino WA in 1931.  Only 40 pieces were made.  One of the 40 recently sold on eBay for $100.00.- it tends to lay around in dresser drawers or be thrown out when expired or given to the kids to paly with and they usually end up losing it.

The other fun thing about collecting exonumia is that there is no set beginning or end.  Do u want to collect tokens that are good for a ride?  You may decide to collect only those good for a carousel ride, a bus ride, a taxi ride.  Want to narrow it down?  How about collecting from just your home town, home state or specific area?

I know a collector who collects wooden nickels with objects that fly through the air depicted on them.  He does not discriminate between bugs, birds, airplanes, blimps or space craft.  If it flies, in his collection it goes.  His joy was greater when he found a road runner on a wooden nickel for a quarter than a coin collectors joy when they found  a 1913 nickel for a half a million, because he could afford to own it.

And while coins do help understand history, tokens often break it down better, especially local history.  Why did several communities in upstate New York celebrate sesqui-centennials before the county they are in did?  Who occupied that building?  Oh, this store was there in 1913 when they issued this token.

Medals come in all sorts of metals-bronze, copper, silver and gold are most common but several different wooden medals were struck for the 100th anniversary of the United States in 1876.  Medals give the die engraver a chance to really show off his or her  artistary, while preservig memories of significant events in some one's life as medals have been struck for just about everything from the historical happenings of the world to honoring the president of the local coin club.

Don't let money value get in way of your having a great time collecting.  Try exonumia.