For some time now I have been meaning to put together this post. I knew it was going to take some reading and research to even do it the slightest justice. Some time back I finally found a silver token I had been searching out for some time. I had found multiple others beforehand but the price was never right, I just refused to overpay so it took me much longer to collect. What I am referring to is a silver striker token featuring Wyatt Earp. I had found a Doc Holliday striker years ago and wrote a post about several months ago.
For those unfamiliar with the silver striker tokens they are commemorative tokens that could be won by playing Silver Striker Slot machines. Occasionally the would payout a token made of silver. These machines have become hard to find, and I haven't seen one in years. I have collected these tokens for years mainly from defunct casinos because they are more interesting that way. Today's token is no different, also from a former casino in Colorado.
About the token
From silverstrikers.com
Silver striker tokens are made of 99.9% silver surrounded by a brass ring. The silver content is around 0.65 Troy ounces, so now with silver just over $28 per Troy ounce there is $18.38 US worth of silver. That's not counting the collector's premium that these carry. They are fun to collect as they are works of art and a piece of history since many of the casinos are long since defunct. The Teller House is a perfect example as it shut down operations in 2000.
The Teller House is a historic former hotel built in 1872 and located in Central City, Colorado. The casino opened in 1991 but only lasted until 2000. The building is currently a restaurant. It's best known feature is the painting on the barroom floor of woman painted by artist Herndon Davis as a joke after being fired form the hotel in 1936. The portrait is said to be of Davis' wife named Nita and is the logo side of the token.
The design side features none other than Wyatt Earp.
viewfloor.co
The portrait on the barroom floor in The Teller House
Wyatt Earp
commons.wikimedia.org
Wyatt Earp is easily one of the most famous lawmen and gamblers in the history of the United States wild west. Born on March 19, 1848 in Illinois. His father and oldest brother fought in the American Civil War, Wyatt tried to enlist and thirteen years old but was unsuccessful. After the Civil War his family moved to California where he spent his late teen years.
He started his law career in Wichita, Kansas but was let go after fighting with political opponents of his superior. From there he joined his brother in Dodge City, Kansas where he became an assistant city marshal. During this time he was sent to Texas to track down an outlaw Dave Rudabaugh. It was there he met Doc Holliday and the two became fast friends. After some time in Dodge City he decided to move onto a new boom town called Tombstone, Arizona.
In Tombstone he joined his brothers Virgil and Morgan, soon after fellow lawman Bat Masterson and Doc Holliday also arrived to cash in on the local economic boom from mining. Masterson shortly after returned to Dodge to help his brother and Wyatt was appointed deputy city Marshall not long after.
One evening "Culry" Bill Brocius accidentally killed the town Marshall Fred White while intoxicated. White had been disarming him and his gun accidentally discharged. Wyatt then pistol whipped Brocius while arresting him, and act which he wouldn't ever forgive and became bitter enemies with Earp. Brocius was cleared of charges as it was deemed an accident. Wyatt lost his deputy status when he wasn't reappointed.
At this point Wyatt became relatively successful as a mine owner and gambler with a quarter interest in Oriental Saloon. However it wasn't long before tensions grew between the Earps some local cowboys as well as the county sheriff Jonny Behan. Virgil was appointed town Marshall and Morgan a deputy. Cowboys Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne were threatening to kill the Earps for several weeks over long standing bad blood with the brothers and Doc Holliday.
Shootout at the O.K. Corral
tripadvisor.com, the actual site of the confrontation
On October 26, 1881 a group of cowboys including Ike Clanton, Billy Claiborne, Tom and Frank McLaury as well as Billy Clanton congregated next to the O.K. Corral and all were armed. City law forbade carrying firearms in town and they were most certainly armed. Virgil decided to disarm them and deputized Wyatt and Holliday to assist he and brother Morgan in the task. On the way there sheriff Behan claimed to have already disarmed them so the Earps put away their guns as they approached the corral.
When they arrived at the lot next to the O.K. Corral there was instant tension as Virgil announced that was there to disarm them since they were still armed. They were only around ten feet from one another at this point. Ike Clanton and Billy Claiborne both ran away. No one really knows for sure who reached for their gun first but a firefight broke out. The black powder used back then created a lot of smoke filling the narrow space and obscured the view. Over the next 30 seconds the three cowboys were shot dead, Virgil and Morgan wounded, Holliday was grazed on the hip and Wyatt was unscathed.
There was a judicial inquiry into the shootings but the judge cleared the Earps and Holliday of any charges. This enraged the cowboys. In December Virgil was shot in the shoulder with a shotgun most likely by Ike Clanton, but he was acquitted in court. The following March Morgan was killed while playing billiards by gunmen who fled. At this point Wyatt realized that the courts wouldn't get justice so he took it upon himself. He asked to be appointed a US deputy and his request was granted and the revenge ride began.
The Vendetta Ride
After escorting his brother's body to Tucson he found Frank Stillwell in wait to ambush and kill him. Stillwell's body was found the next day riddled with bullets and buckshot next to the train tracks. A murder warrant for Earp's arrest as well as the rest of the posse was issued the following day but they had already returned and passed through Tombstone. He then set out for others complicit in the murder of his brother and tracked down and killed "Indian" Charlie. A few days later they found the camp of Curly Brocius and the other cowboys. Curly Bill removed his shotgun and fired at Wyatt and missed. Despite a hail of bullets surrounding him from the other cowboys Wyatt took his shotgun and killed Brocius. His party then quickly retreated as they were very out manned and out gunned. Earp realized his overcoat was riddled with bullet holes as well as his hat, and another bullet was lodged in his boot heel.
After that brush with death the posse departed to New Mexico to evade the warrant for his arrest as well as his posse. Holliday went north to Colorado where he died of Tuberculosis. Wyatt returned to California and pursued various mining ventures and oil wells with some modest success. He also was a boxing referee as well as an unpaid movie consultant for early Hollywood westerns. He died at 80 years old in Los Angeles, and though he had been in multiple gun fights over his lifetime he was never wounded by a single bullet.
I do realize that I left out the women in his life but it was done out of necessity to make this post not overly long. I have however placed a link under references to Wikipedia if you want to read a much more detailed life summary and those other details. Thank you for taking time to read my post and I appreciate your support! Tomorrow is finally Friday!
And since I am posting in the #freecompliments community I just wanted to remind everyone to take some time today to be kind. A little kindness can make a huge difference in someone's life. Please check out the community and consider joining us!
Disclaimer:
I'm not a financial advisor and this isn't financial advice, please always do your own research before spending your hard earned money.
All photos are mine unless otherwise stated.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyatt_Earp
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunfight_at_the_O.K.Corral
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teller_House
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Face_on_the_Barroom_Floor(painting)
If you are interested in precious metals or even want to learn more about them feel free to come join us #silvergoldstackers
