Celluloid Charge Coin Sells For Record Price

From an article written in 1991.

A “Very Nice” Kresge Department Store celluloid charge coin has sold for a record $275.00. The coin is white celluloid with blue printing. Along with the coin were two carrying envelopes that sold for $25.00 each. 

The celluloid piece and the two envelopes were priced separately, but sold as a group for $325.00.

Source of the coin

The coin and envelopes were originally purchased by Dan Biasotto of Pottersville, New Jersey. Dan bought all the belongings of an estate for $2,000.00 about 18 months ago. 

Even though Dan isn’t a credit piece collector, he knew the celluloid charge coin had value. When Dan bid on the estate he didn’t figure any value for the coin and envelopes into his offer.

In good condition

When Dan discovered the coin it was inside the smaller of the two envelopes. The smaller envelope was then inside the larger one. It’s believed this is how the coin was carried and used since the large outer envelope is well worn and in Poor condition. 

It’s also believed this is the reason the celluloid piece was able to stay in such a high condition, because of all the protection the envelopes provided.

Prized possessions

Carrying envelopes are highly prized to go along with celluloid charge coins. An example of how desirable they are comes from Ed Dence, the world’s leading authority on charge coins. Ed has aggressively collected charge coins for over 55 years. In all that time, he only acquired one envelope.

The price for the charge coin and envelopes appears to be very firm. Even if the buyer of the pieces would have rejected them, there was another collector “waiting in the wings” to acquire the set.

Copyright 1991, Greg Tunks

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Frequently asked questions

You can find out the value of old credit cards by checking how much similar cards sell for. There are several ways to do this.

The simplest way to determine the value of old credit cards is to ask an experienced collector. If you submit an inquiry via our contact form, we can connect you with an expert who can assist you and point out if there is anything rare or unusual in your collection.

Alternatively, you can become a member of the American Credit Card Collectors Society. Membership in our credit card collecting club provides access to resources and knowledgeable members who can help. Benefits of membership include access to a gallery containing thousands of cards with historical pricing information, and access to our entire collection of newsletters, from 1994 through the present day.

You can look at recent sales on auction sites, however, there are some considerations to keep in mind when doing this. Firstly, it’s important to look at selling prices, rather than asking prices. Selling prices are the prices people actually paid, while asking prices can be very different. Secondly, historical sales on some sites are only saved for 3 months, so you may not find something that exactly matches what you have. Thirdly, it is sometimes possible to see rare or unusual cards sell for lower prices than they should have because people do not understand their worth, the ads don't do justice to the card, they're listed in the wrong category, or any combination thereof.

There are always people in our club who are actively buying cards. Collectors tend to focus on a niche, like gas cards or retail cards, or they might focus on a slightly broader area, like bank cards or travel and entertainment cards. Many of the rarest or most unusual cards will exchange hands in private sales. Please contact us if you are thinking of selling your collection.

You can also sell your old credit cards on online marketplaces. You will get the highest price if you sell each of your cards individually, although this approach requires the most effort. At the opposite end of the effort scale would be selling all cards as a job lot, an approach which typically results in the lowest price on a per-card basis. Halfway between these two approaches would be to group cards into different categories and to sell these individual groups, e.g., BankAmericard, Master Charge, oil and gas, retail, and so on.

To join the club, visit the membership section and complete the registration form. You can pay by check or PayPal. We offer annual or lifetime memberships. If you have any questions please contact us via the form on our website.

Credit cards are more worthwhile collecting if they are rare, in good condition, have historical significance, or are associated with famous personalities or events. Valuable modern cards might include those that are difficult to obtain, such as American Express Centurion (a.k.a. ‘black’) cards, while older credit cards might include early independent bank cards, American Express, Diners Club, or BankAmericard (Visa) cards from the 50s/early 60s, or Master Charge (MasterCard) cards from the late 60s. Rare or unusual cards can also be sought after, such as those issued in small numbers, like small independent department stores or gas stations, or cards with appealing aesthetics.

Consulting with other collectors or experts in the club can provide valuable insights. Contact us for more information via the form on our website.

We do not offer an appraisal service in a traditional sense (such services are normally a paid service) but we can connect you with an expert who should be able to assist for free and point out anything rare or unusual in your collection. The simplest way to do this is to submit an inquiry via our contact form.

The American Credit Card Collectors Society accepts donations and is most grateful for any we receive. When donations happen, we strive to find good homes for cards where they will be looked after, matching cards with collectors who will appreciate them. The club may charge members a nominal fee for donated cards, and the proceeds are offset against the running costs of our club. We are a non-profit organization. Running costs include expenses like our convention and website hosting. Donations are most popular for people getting out of the hobby, or when someone has inherited a collection and doesn’t know what to do with it.

If you wish to donate your collection, please contact us via the contact form above.

American Credit Card Collectors Society