CVC & Collectables presents this 1879 12½ Cent Railroad Token, issued by Thomas H. Hobron, owner of the Kahului-Wailuku railroad in Maui, Hawaii. Graded PCGS F12, this scarce plantation-era issue represents one of the earliest forms of localized currency tied directly to Hawaiian sugarcane rail commerce.
Token Highlights:
- Issuer: T. Hobron, Kahului–Wailuku, Maui, Hawaiian Kingdom
- Date: 1879
- Denomination: 12½ Cents (Twelve and a Half Cents)
- Composition: Likely copper-nickel or brass
- Grading Service: PCGS
- Grade: F12 (Fine)
- Reference: Medcalf & Russell 2TE-8
- Design: 6-pointed stars flanking the denomination
Obverse:
“T. Hobron” above the boldly struck “12½ CENTS”, flanked by 6-pointed stars. A simple yet powerful utilitarian design intended for plantation and transportation use.
Collectibility:
Tokens from Hawaii’s plantation and transportation history are highly collectible and increasingly scarce. This PCGS F12 example remains well-defined for its age and usage, offering a tangible link to pre-territorial Hawaii, plantation economics, and the birth of regional rail.
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