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The Evolution of Charge Coins to Credit Cards

Jessica Clifton2023-04-06T18:52:22+01:00

Charge coins were first issued in 1890, with some stores continuing to use them as late as 1959. Coins were issued in various shapes and sizes. Some, from clothing stores, came in shapes such as shirts, socks, or hats. What were charge coins made of? Charge coins were made of different...

Shopping Around for a Credit Card

Jessica Clifton2023-03-23T09:28:07+00:00

Did you "shop" for the Visa, MasterCard or AmEx in your wallet? Chances are, you have it only because you already do business with the same bank or because it came pre-approved with a big line of credit.  Until a few years ago, there was little reason to shop because...

Why Do Credit Cards Have Large Price Increases?

Jessica Clifton2023-03-09T09:02:28+00:00

Many credit cards have experienced price advances ranging from 1,000%-2,000% in the last 24 months. There are two main reasons for these price increases: A strong credit card collector base Credit pieces have a strong collector base, which means most cards are tightly held. This is particularly true of the...

Macy’s Deposit Accounts

Jessica Clifton2023-02-23T17:57:27+00:00

In the 1930s, '40s, and '50s, R.H. Macy & Co. of New York used two well known slogans: "It's smart to be thrifty" and "6% less for cash." How outdated, unfortunately, those slogans sound these days. The dilemma of charge accounts Because of the slogans, especially the "6% less for cash,"...

A Look Inside A Credit Card Embossing Facility

Jessica Clifton2023-02-10T09:20:59+00:00

I have done work for a large northwest bank in the US for the past few years. When they contacted me recently to do some work for their bank card division, I felt it was time to see if I could get some plastic out of the deal. So...

Are They Charge Coins Or Charge Tokens?

Jessica Clifton2023-01-19T08:45:19+00:00

Some people call them "charge coins". Some say "charge tokens". What should you call the first known credit pieces? The proper name is charge coin. Cause of confusion The confusion about charge coins vs. charge tokens originally comes from numismatic definitions.  Numismatists have precise definitions to distinguish coins from tokens. According to the...