Wooden nickels serve many functions in our society: souvenirs, coupons, business cards, promotional items. The graphic design is usually based on some stylization of a nickel. For some reason, the older Indian or buffalo nickel is preferred. I offer here a variety of designs, including a dime and “dickel.” The “round tuit” is meant to serve as an icebreaker: the recipient has finally gotten a “round tuit.”
(Posted by Doug Skinner.)
1 response so far ↓
1 Angela // Dec 21, 2010 at 9:03 am
I didn’t know much about wooden nickels or “dickels” (really?) except that I like the look of them and I love the feel of them. I’d heard the saying, “Don’t take any wooden nickels.” but I didn’t know what it meant.
wikipedia:
Wooden nickels were most commonly issued in the US in the 1930s, after the Great Depression. Wooden nickels can be used as currency.
It was during this decade that some banks and chambers of commerce in the United States issued wooden nickels with expiration dates to mitigate difficulties faced by merchants in making change at times of instability.
Common views published on the internet concerning the origin of the wooden nickel are patently incomplete, often making it an innovation of this late date that arose in response to such banking difficulties. Commemorative nickels are then supposed to be an outgrowth of these legitimate wooden nickels. However, collectible wooden nickels have been mentioned in print since at least 1888[1].
An American adage, “Don’t take any wooden nickels” is considered a lighthearted reminder to be cautious in one’s dealings.