Horace Partridge Charge Coin

Charge Plates, and charge coins are the predecessors to credit cards. First issued just after the Civil War, they grew in popularity in the years leading up to the Great Depression. Given out by merchants or departments stores the coins were typically struck with an image or logo of the company that issued it. There was also a unique account number attributed to the coin. A customer wanting to charge a purchase to their account would present the coin to the merchant, who would then check a paper file to ensure that the account was up to date.

Loosely dated by the Horace Partridge Co. logo that appears on the front of these coins, the company issued three different Charge Coins from the late 1920's through the 1930's. The oval white metal "Discount and Charge Coin" pictured here, features the account number on the back, "No. C291." These charge coins with a 3 digit number might have been issued earlier than the two round coins.

One of the round charge coins that reads "Discount Charge Coin 49 Franklin St." on the front (might be brass) also uses a 3 digit account No. with the "C" prefix on the back. The numbers are higher than the oval coin and might be the second used. The third that reads "Discount Coin" on the front (pictured below) made of copper Reads "Sporting Goods 9 Franklin St. Boston" on the back and has a 4 digit No. starting with the prefix "D."

The Horace Partridge Company was a manufacturer and distributor of athletic goods since 1847. The company was involved with a large range of athletic and sporting goods which included, Archery, Croquet, Tennis, Skiing, Basketball, Football, Ice Hockey, and baseball. The Boston Bruins, Red Sox and Braves had their uniforms made by Horace Partridge & Co. for many years. In 1930 the Horace Partridge Co., and Lowe & Campbell, merged with the larger, Thomas E. Wilson Company (Wilson Western Sporting Goods) These mergers were common, as large sporting goods companies such as Wilson, Rawlings, and Spalding merged with smaller, local or regional companies to increase their presence in markets throughout the country.

Horace Partridge Sporting Goods Discount Charge Coin

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