The Utah Sales Tax Token is a circulated aluminum token issued by the Utah State Tax Commission for their Emergency Relief Fund. Made in the United States.

It has been in a trunk in my Grandmother's basement for 80 years!
Vintage Utah emergency relief fund State Sales Tax Token ...
Utah Sales Tax Token Emergency Relief tokens were aluminum, fractional currency issued between 1937 and 1942 (ND) to manage small-fraction sales taxes. These tokens, generally valued at 1 Mill (1/10¢) or 5 Mills (1/2¢), were part of a Depression-era system. Today, they are popular numismatic collectibles.
  • Purpose: These tokens were used to pay sales tax on small purchases, allowing tax to be collected on items costing less than a penny, according to The New York Historical.
  • Emergency Relief Fund: The "Emergency Relief Fund" inscription indicates they were tied to Depression-era public welfare funding.
  • Composition & Value: The tokens are primarily aluminum, with denominations often in 1 Mill or 5 Mills (1/2 cent).
  • Collectibility: Considered a common type of token by numismatists, they are still widely traded as affordable pieces of history.
  • Usage Years: The tokens were used between 1937 and 1942.
These tokens were part of a broader, nationwide effort, with twelve states issuing similar items