Tax tokens of New Mexico, USA

In the 1930s, U.S. states issued sales tax tokens to collect sales tax on small purchases where the tax was less than 1 cent. In New Mexico, these tokens were used, among other things, to pay an emergency school tax.

 

 

5 mill (1/10 cent)
16 mm., copper
1935
5 / TAX TOKEN FIVE MILL / EMERGENCY SCHOOL TAX ON PURCHASE OF TWENTY FIVE CENTS / Emblem
NEW MEXICO BUREU OF REVENUE / 1935 / Eagle

 

 

 

5 mill (1/10 cent)
23 mm., black plastic
1941-1949
5 / NEW MEXICO / SCHOOL TAX TOKEN / two concentric circles around a digit in the center
5 / NEW MEXICO / SCHOOL TAX TOKEN / two concentric circles around a digit in the center

 

 

 

1 mill (1/10 cent)
16 mm., aluminium
1935
1 / TAX TOKEN ONE MILL / EMERGENCY SCHOOL TAX ON PURCHASE OF FIVE CENTS / Emblem
NEW MEXICO BUREU OF REVENUE / 1935 / Eagle

 

 

New Mexico Tax tokens value

New Mexico issued aluminum, copper, fiber, and plastic tokens.

Metal tokens are common and cost less than a dollar each. The exception is the copper 5-mill token, which error inscription "five cents" instead of "twenty-five cents," which is much harder to find and can cost $10 or more.

Plastic tokens come in white and black, in various shades. The most common are gray-white and slightly pink translucent, black is a little less common. White opaque tokens are less common and can cost around $30.

Fiber black and white tokens are much rarer and can cost $50 or more.
It is important to distinguish between a black plastic token and a black fiber token. They look about the same, but the latter is much more expensive.