| SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Value | 5 cents |
| Alloy | Ni Plated Brass |
| Diameter | 21.2 mm |
| Thickness | 1.8 mm |
| Weight | 4.3 gms |
| Shape | Round |
| Edge | Plain |
| DieAxis | O° |
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| Token Catalog #171725 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Obverse : Image of a TopHat at center with name
TOP HAT CAFE above and town
CEYLON . MINN. below along the periphery.
Reverse : Large 5¢ at center with the legend
GOOD FOR on top and
IN TRADE below at bottom along the periphery.
The Nickel plating has peeled a bit just above GOOD on reverse showing the brass token below.
Top Hat in its early years was a tavern. Patrons commonly
shake dice for drinks with the bar tender. Rather than gamble cash
register money, the Bar tender would give any winner a token that was
good for trade in for a beer.
Marlen E. Bents, President of the Bank however doubts that the
TopHat was known for gambling which he remembers took place at the
Ceylon Hotel and the Ditz's Pool Hall.
This Nickel plated Top Hat Cafe token is of the identical size of the 5 cent Buffalo Nickel which weighed 5 grams, and was slightly lighter.
| Ceylon Variety Store |
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In 1946 Ernie Thompson purchased the Top Hat Cafe, and turned it into the Ceylon Variety Store. This store changed hands few times and closed in 1964 and was purchased in 1967 by Lemke Awning Company. The State Bank of Ceylon, which was adjoining now includes the area of the original building.
The token was scanned at 300 dpi and the images are displayed at 250 dpi. This token was obtained in the 2001 August on ebay from a seller from MN, USA
This Lakdiva collection Token is on Loan to the Ceylon Area Historical Society and have been on display at their Museum in Ceylon Mn subsequent to my visit in 2005 September.
See also the Ceylon MN token site for more stories.