World Tokens

Buck Island, William Bailey and Robertson Smith, cupro-nickel One Buck (2), undated [1958] and 1961, buck’s (goat) head, revs. map of island, both 36mm, 18.75g/12h, 18.35g/12h (Lyall 134, 135; Bruce X TN4, 5); Half-a-Buck (2), both undated [1958], in bronze and goldine, similar, both 28.5mm, 9.05g/12h, 9.04g/12h (Lyall 136, 136 var; Bruce X TN1, 2) [4]. Very fine and better, but obverse of first heavily tarnished £30-40

Provenance: First and third gift of R. Prann, 1961; fourth bt J.D. King 1971.

William W. Bailey, a lawyer from White Plains, NY, who served in the US Navy in World War II, acquired Buck Island in 1946. In February 1948 he established a law practice in Christianstad with David E. Mass, a former FBI agent and local attorney. In partnership with a fellow former naval officer, Capt Robertson F. Smith, Bailey built a harbour and airstrip with the intention of promoting the island as a tourist resort and the checks were redeemable in Coca-Cola