Since my son Jake has returned from Portugal, I’m going to start adding new information to my Idaho Tokens web site with his help. The first thing we are doing is making a few changes to the site that I hope well be helpful. First we have changed the web address to www.idahotokens.com. The name wasn’t being used and should be easier for everyone to remember. Jake has also added a feature on the home page which will allow access to previous months information. For now the only previous months information is the last one I did. I’m going to try and add the ones I did previous to that as time allows. I’ve added an "about me" page that your welcome to look at if you wish. I’m going to be changing the information on the site monthly except for the "article" page. I’m only going to add a new article once every three months or so. That will put less pressure on me to run the site. I’ll change the other pages monthly. I’m going to try and add more token pictures each month. All the tokens pictured are from my collection unless noted otherwise. I’m  not going to continue the "Miscellaneous Info" page. I’m  going to add a "links" page to access other web sites that I think you might enjoy.

     The Idaho token yearly "gathering" is planned for the Pocatello area this year. I think the exact date is still undecided but it looks like it may be towards the end of July or in September. I’ll add that date as soon as it is finalized. Greg Manos a.k.a. G-Man is in charge this year and I think Richard Hansen was going to assist. If the past is any indicator of the future it should be lots of fun. I know I look forward to it each year. I’m usually able to end up with a few new (old) tokens, learn some local history and get to visit some towns that I haven’t been to before. I think it makes the tokens you have more interesting if your able to actually see the town itself that they are from.

     Mark Barrett known as "menanmonster" on e-bay is now serving a Mormon mission with is wife in Guam. He has access to email and a computer if you need to contact him. Some of you have met Roy Rubick from Idaho Falls. His main interest is Montana tokens since he’s from Butte, Montana. He has a Montana Tokens web site at www.users.gobigwest.com/rmrubick. Check it out. He also collects Idaho tokens. He likes to trade for Montana tokens when he can. He has also published a Montana catalog.

     The weather is finally starting to cooperate so that some of us can start metal detecting. It’s not as effective as "beating the bushes" but does produce some neat tokens if your willing to do the work. My first detecting trip this spring was to Newdale, Idaho with Dale Austin. I found a "Black & Bird/ Newdale, / Idaho" token. Not to bad for my first trip of the year! It is the second one of these known and is round, brass, 21mm and good for 5c in trade. It was in very good condition and ended up in Dale’s collection since I already had the only other one known. I know some of the other token collectors have been out detecting but I haven’t heard what’s been found. I understand that Myron Curtis is now the representative for Mine-Lab metal detectors in this area.

      It doesn’t seen like to many Idaho tokens are showing up on e-bay lately. I did see a Miners Brewery and Bakery from Idaho City, Idaho sell for $800.00. It is one of two civil war tokens with an 1865 date on it so it seems to continue to sell well. Mike Fritz lost out on a Gilmore Pool Hall that sold for over $300.00. A Mission Pool Hall from Roberts was listed as Robertson, Idaho and sold for $187.00. I e-mailed the seller so I hope he makes things right. A Miner’s Exchange Saloon/Idaho City, Idaho sold for $349.00. A Boyd’s Cigar Store/ Twin Falls, Idaho sold for $44.77 and a Grover Dairy / Rexburg, Idaho token sold for $34.33. I’m sure I’ve missed a few other good ones.