Token 40 – South West Africa – C.D.M. Milk 1 Pint Token – White

Token 40 – South West Africa – C.D.M. Milk 1 Pint Token – White

An original C.D.M. “MILK 1 PINT” token, issued by the Consolidated Diamond Mines (C.D.M.) of South West Africa.

This distinctive round white plastic token, with its central hole, represents one pint of milk and offers a fascinating glimpse into the practical everyday life associated with the C.D.M. mining communities of South West Africa.

Clearly marked “C.D.M.” and “MILK 1 PINT”, this is a specialised commodity token rather than ordinary currency. Its purpose was connected with the provision or accounting of a specific everyday necessity, making it an unusual surviving piece of industrial and social history.

The combination of the white synthetic material, central hole and clearly stated milk denomination gives the token a particularly distinctive appearance. It is an excellent example of the highly specialised exonumia associated with organised mining communities.

An especially interesting collecting opportunity is presented by Token 39 – the corresponding C.D.M. “BREAD 1 LB” token. The two pieces represent two fundamental everyday food commodities — one pint of milk and one pound of bread — and their contrasting white and red colours make them visually attractive together.

Offered together, Tokens 39 and 40 would form a particularly appealing small C.D.M. commodity-token grouping, combining two different denominations and commodities while illustrating the practical side of everyday life in historic South West Africa.

A highly unusual and attractive pair for collectors of C.D.M., South West Africa and Namibian mining history, industrial memorabilia, commodity tokens and Southern African exonumia.