Obverse Design The legend "WING CHONG YUEN" curves along the top. The legend "CENT.VAL." curves along the bottom. In the center is a large, plain number 5. All these legends use incuse lettering. The token has a smooth edge without a rim.
Reverse Design The reverse is blank. It has a smooth edge without a rim.
Metal Unknown white metal, possibly nickel. Weight Unknown. Size and Shape Round, 22 mm in diameter.
Dates Issued Unknown. Probably sometime between 1852 and 1885.
Issurer Wing Chong Yuen and Company.
Mintage Unknown.
Rarity Very Rare. Manufacturer Unknown. Other Catalog Numbers Previously unlisted.
Varieties

There are three known different WING CHONG YUEN & CO. token designs, two uniface and one with a design on both sides. There is also a WING CHUNG YUEN (note the middle name is CHUNG, not CHONG). That token is both uniface and incuse, similar to the A. GROSSO COLON Y CHAGRE token.

The design of this token is the least sophisticated of the varieties and the most similar to the WING CHUNG YUEN piece, since it is unifice, incuse and without ornamentation. It is most likely the earliest issue of WING CHING YUEN.

Function Merchant token.
Population Count Only one specimen of this token in collector hands is known to me. Recent sales include:
  1. Auction sale on ebay on May 19, 2007 for $461.78 plus $3.00 shipping.
Notes