PISMO CLAM MONEY
During Roosevelt’s “Bank
Holiday” in March 1933, many communities faced
a severe shortage of coins and currency. One of these was
Pismo Beach, California. At that time Pismo Clams were plentiful, but
money was not. Due to the shortage of small change, local
merchants started to issue local scrip written on Pismo clam shells,
which could be redeemed at a later date. The clam shell money proved
both popular and profitable. Pismo clam money saw limited
circulation in the local area; however most were kept by tourists as
souvenirs rather than redeemed. About a dozen merchants in all issued
Pismo clam shell money, with denominations from 25 cents to 20
Dollars. Original Pismo clam shell money
is now a collector’s item, with pieces selling for hundreds of
dollars.
2019
PISMO CLAM MONEY
The Newman Numismatic Portal recently published an excellent paper by
Joshua Smith "
The
California Clam Shell Scrip Currency of 1933".
It is available free on the Newman Numismatic Portal at:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/book/573710
After meeting with author Joshua Smith while he was
doing research
on Pismo Clam Money, Games Exchange owner Tony Warino and professional
numismatist Joel Anderson decided it was time to do another Pismo Clam
Money issue. Tony wanted to use the Pismo Clam Money as a
unique form of gift certificate. Joel received requests for
examples of their 2013 issue of Pismo Clam Money, which had sold out
long ago. Tony requested the shells be denominated
at
$20, as that was the most popular amount for gift certificates in his
store. In October 2019 an issue of 20 Pismo Clam Shells,
denominated at $20 each, were created by local artist Sarah Chapman
Renner, who drew the previous 2013 issues. Shells were
numbered 101 to 121. Like the original clam shell money, each
is hand drawn, hand signed and individually numbered. Each
has a different design. The shells are approximately 4.5 inches
(11.5cm) wide. We offer examples of this unusual Pismo Clam
Money at its face value of $20.
Item
PISMO19 $20 PISMO CLAM MONEY, GAMES
EXCHANGE out
2013 PISMO CLAM MONEY
In 2013, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the original
Pismo Clam Money, three merchants in the Pismo Beach, California area
revived the
historic series with new issues of Pismo clam shell money: The
Shellebration
Beach House, which is located next to Pismo State Beach in
Oceano, The Girl’s Restaurant located in Arroyo Grande and Games
Exchange of Grover Beach. All three issues are denominated "Good for
$5.00 in Trade". Like the original clam shell money, each was created
by hand, hand signed and individually numbered, so each is slightly
different. The shells are approximately 4.5 inches
(11.5cm) wide. We offer examples of this
unusual Pismo clam shell money dated 2013 at its face value of $5.00.
Item
PISMO-SHELL $5 PISMO CLAM MONEY,
SHELL-EBRATION BEACH
HOUSE, OCEANO out
Item
PISMO-GIRLS $5 PISMO CLAM MONEY, THE GIRL'S
RESTAURANT, ARROYO GRANDE out
Item
PISMO-GAMES $5 PISMO CLAM MONEY, GAMES
EXCHANGE, GROVER BEACH out
"PIECE-OF-EIGHT" FROM
PISMO BEACH,
CALIFORNIA
One
side of the silver-plated store-card token features the design of a
1743 Pillars Piece-of-Eight. The 27mm token is
about the size of a 2 Reales rather than an 8
Reales.
The other advertises the "
SHELL-EBRATION
BEACH HOUSE, PISMO STATE BEACH", along with its
web address:
Shellebration
Beach House, telephone
number and major features of the Beach House. The vacation
home
is available by the night or by the week. 1000 of the tokens
were struck by The Patrick
Mint. It is an interesting token from this popular
California beach community.
Item
TKN-SHELL PISMO BEACH,
CALIFORNIA VACATION RENTAL TOKEN, UNC.
$3.00
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One
side of the silver-plated store-card token features the design of a
1743 Pillars Piece-of-Eight. The 27mm token is
about the size of a 2 Reales rather than an 8
Reales.
The other advertises the "SHELL-EBRATION
BEACH HOUSE, PISMO STATE BEACH", along with its
web address: Shellebration
Beach House, telephone
number and major features of the Beach House. The vacation
home
is available by the night or by the week. 1000 of the tokens
were struck by The Patrick
Mint. It is an interesting token from this popular
California beach community.
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