An interesting coin, used exclusively in Drumheller took a long road back to the valley.
inSide Drumheller received an e-mail from Vera Smith, a 91-year old woman in Mechanicsville VA. She had found an article online about the historic buildings in Drumheller, in particular the Elks Lodge.
Why this piqued her curiosity was because she had a rare coin. On the obverse it has an image of a Tyrannosaurus Rex surrounded by hills. Across the top it says “The Dinosaur Valley,” and on the bottom it says “Drumheller, Alberta.”
On the reverse, the top states “A Prehistoric Past, A Golden Future.” Spelled out on the coin was that it was worth 50 cents in trade at any cooperating business in the Drumheller district, or redeemable at face value at the BPO Elks #54 until December 31, 1963.
She told inSide Drumheller she found it in a collection of coins, along with some other rare finds including a token from the 1962 American Space Age Fair in Seattle.
Barney Popovich shows off a couple of rare coins from Drumheller service clubs. Above is a coin sent to inSide Drumheller by Vera Smith dating back to 1963.
Vera was born in Washington State. She left in 1934 and returned in 1966. She lived there until 1980, and still has family in the area. She figures it was when she was living in Washington that she acquired the coin. Both she and her husband, who has since passed away, were Elks members in Florida and Washington.
She mailed the coin to inSide Drumheller.
“You can decide what to do with it … if the lodge is still active, they may want it as a part of history,” she writes.
inSide Drumheller began inquiring with local members of the Elks as to the origin of the coin, but the Elks contacted were not members in the valley at the time, or only had vague recollections of it.
That was until inSide Drumheller spoke with Barney Popovich. He is a lifetime member and recently received his 55-year membership pin.
“I remember them being passed around,” said Popovich. “I might even have one myself.”
In fact, he dug a similar coin out from his collection, but it was from the 1970’s and featured a different sponsoring service club.
He said he doesn’t recall any members travelling to Washington, but said it is entirely possible a member from Washington could have picked one up in their travels.
He recalls this is was a fundraising endeavour by the club in which they produced a set number of coins. Residents could purchase the coins and use them as tender at participating businesses. He said the number that people acquired but did not spend was profit for the club.
“I kind of remember another group put them out for one year and then we kind of took them over and produced them for the next year,” said Popovich. “If everyone took one as change at the stores and never showed up with them again that was profit.”
inSide Drumheller would like to hear if anyone else remembers these coins or has an example. Contact inSide Drumheller at 403-823-2580.
