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Bawdy House Token: Medal for the Best & Largest... Authentic! c1900 [190073]

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Exonumia - Tokens Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 400.00 USD
Bawdy House Token: Medal for the Best & Largest...  Authentic! c1900 [190073]
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Authentic, used, Bawdy House Token. c1900. Reads: Good For / One / (Screw) // Medal for / Best& Largest /(Rooster). Aluminum Token. 31 mm Round. Thought to be from a brothel either from an unknown western mining camp, or possibly from the 1904 Worlds Fair in St. Louis, which was known to have a number of brothels in the saloons outside. Historically, the red-light district lined the street across from the entrance to the fair grounds. Unlike other similar pieces, this piece appears to have been genuinely used. The reverse has the designation "Good for one (picture of a screw)" These generally came from active bawdy houses or brothel. Every bawdy house had a saloon or conversely, some saloons had bawdy houses in the back or upstairs. Places such as Goldfield, Nevada had entire small zones restricted to whorehouses. A well-known game at a whorehouse saloon was called, "Lay 'em on the bar, boys!" Use your imagination as to what this means. We have had an original so-called "Lay 'em on the bar" measuring device at one time. This token is holed on top and rubbed, indicating this piece was actually worn proudly by some lucky contest winner in the saloon. [