Denver, Colorado. Colorado Telephone Company. January 1, 1890. 5 Cents. Choice Very Fine.White paper. No imprint. 5 CENTS in top corners and in large counter at left. Company monogram at right. Large red 5 at center. Ornate printed back with 5 at center. "This is not intended to be used as money" at top on the face, though that is exactly what these small change scrip notes were used for during this time period in much of the western United States. The Colorado Telephone Company was formed in 1881 through the consolidation of several smaller Colorado phone companies. Today it is part of the Qwest Corporation owned by Century Link. An interesting early Colorado scrip issue "good for talks over toll lines" during the early days of telephone technology. Bold inks and just moderate circulation are noticed on this example.
