Test Coins

[Dave F]

Here are three unused General Telephone pay phone test coins (nickel/dime/quarter) from Santa Monica, CA.  These date to the early 1960s.

[DavePEI]

Better than my slug collection!

Dave

[Scotophor]

Were these test coins intended to be accepted by the coin mechanism, or rejected? Were both types made?

[G-Man]

Were these test coins intended to be accepted by the coin mechanism, or rejected? Were both types made?

They are of precise dimensions for verifying that a coin mechanism is not worn out and is still in tolerance to properly accepts valid coins and will reject slugs.   

[G-Man]

Were these test coins intended to be accepted by the coin mechanism, or rejected? Were both types made?

They are of precise dimensions for verifying that a coin mechanism is not worn out and is still in tolerance to properly accepts valid coins and will reject slugs.   

I should add that in addition to testing the coin mechanism, these coins were also issued payphone techs so they would not have to use their own coins to place test calls.

[Dave F]

Associated Telephone Co., Ltd. was formed in 1932 by several independent phone companies in Southern California.  In 1953, the name was changed to General Telephone Company of California, a subsidiary of what would ultimately become the familiar GTE. 

Associated Tel. test coins are harder to find than the more common General Tel of Ca. versions.  Most were produced in brass, fewer were stamped from aluminum.  This nickel-size aluminum example is in unusually-nice condition, as the aluminum coins were less robust and tended to show wear more quickly.

DF