LOT John D Kennedy  /  Navajo Trade Tokens  / 

3

B J Hay

Currency:USD Category:Western Americana / Collectibles - Tokens Start Price:10.00 USD Estimated At:NA
B J Hay
Invoices will be prepared upon completion of sale. Proper shipping and handling charges will be calculated from USPS rates.
BJ’s Hay and Feed is a few miles north of Gallup. It was built in the late 60s on the site of Wildcat Trading. It was probably the last trading post to accept trade tokens and did so at least 25 years after the government banned them on the reservation. The reason being that this store is off reservation. The owner, BJ Short, was a colorful guy and known for his quick temper and volatility. In the 70s, the First State Bank in Gallup, which handled a lot of trader business, was sold to a holding company and had to change basically from hand-shake business to generally accepted business practices including financial statements, which few traders ever had. One day I was in the bank and BJ came in for an advance on his credit line. The new banker stated that until the bank had his proper financial records, it could not advance funds to him. A loud argument ensued, and BJ announced that if he couldn’t get his money then he was going out to his truck for his gun and would return to take his money. The new banker blanched. Those who knew BJ just shook their heads. I left the bank before learning of the dispute resolution.
I have only seen $1 tokens for this store.
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