It’s Mintage Monday time!

For this week’s entry, I can’t take credit. This particular real-coin upgrade idea for Great Western Trail came from BGG/Instagram user TronOfTheDead, and I loved it so much I had to copy it.

The coins are real Indian Head pennies and buffalo nickels, with the added awesomeness of an 1800’s era 2-cent coin to replace the job market token!

The pennies and nickels can be found for about the same as I pay for most metal coin upgrades. The best way to get them cheap is to search for lots on eBay of what coin collectors call “culls”: coins to worn or damaged to carry any real collector value.

But they’re perfect for games!

The 2-cent coin os another story altogether. Finding one in good enough condition for the “2” to be legible cost me about $14 for that one coin, but I felt it was worth it for this phenomenal upgrade.

Thanks, Jeff, for the BGG post showing this upgrade!

CLICK HERE for the archive of previous Mintage Monday posts, and check back every Monday for more awesome metal coins you can add to your favorite board games!