Exonumia From the $1 Bucket

cmerlo1

One of the B&M's here that I frequent has a big tub of 'miscellaneous numismatic items' for $1.00 each. It's mostly modern stuff but I have gotten a few nice pieces from it. I spent more time than I usually do looking through it, and found these two pieces at the bottom of the bucket. The first is an E. Lyon Magnetic Powder token from the Hard Times era. It is about the size of a nickel and is gilt (?) brass with a reeded edge. The other is a George Washington token, with a bust of Washington on the obverse and 'PATER PATRIE' (Father of the Country) above. The reverse has a wreath and 'A MEMORIAL OF THE WASHINGTON CABINET MAY 1859'. It is slightly smaller than the Lyon token but is much thicker.

Can anyone provide any additional information on these? I didn't find a lot of info on the internet about them. I'd also like to know if they're real. Thanks in advance!

Zoins

Nice pieces of history! Can't go wrong at those prices!

jonathanb

The second one is a modern restrike of a US Mint medal, Julian MT-22. Nice examples (of the restrike) show up fairly often on eBay in the $10 range. Originals might sell in the $100 range.

ricko

Nice finds.... especially in the dollar bin....Cheers, RickO

DCW

CaptHenway

Wow zero no the Lyon token!

tokenpro

Both are real but the GW medalette is a 20th Century strike as noted above.

The E. Lyon token is one of six or seven different varieties issued by this New York City merchant in the 1850's. It is a merchant token (more commonly referred to as a Miller store card named after Donald Miller whose catalog of the 1845 - 1860 era tokens is the standard reference) rather than a Hard Times era token (1832-1844).

All of the Lyons varieties are among the most common Miller store cards both in circulated and uncirculated condition. All the varieties catalog $10 in xf in Rulau's compilation catalog and should bring 50% to 100% more in that condition on eBay so your venture to the bottom of the box was well worthwhile. The correct catalog number is Miller NY-510, brass, 22mm and it was struck by Scovill of Waterbury, Ct.

From the Rulau catalog: "Emanuel Lyon is listed as a chemist and inventor and maker of rat poisons in the 1849 directory, located at 420 Broadway. His advertisement in that directory claims other distinctions, including Magnetic Powders for destroying bedbugs, cockroaches, fleas, flies, etc."

Boosibri

Nice post @tokenpro

cmerlo1

@tokenpro said:
Both are real but the GW medalette is a 20th Century strike as noted above.

The E. Lyon token is one of six or seven different varieties issued by this New York City merchant in the 1850's. It is a merchant token (more commonly referred to as a Miller store card named after Donald Miller whose catalog of the 1845 - 1860 era tokens is the standard reference) rather than a Hard Times era token (1832-1844).

All of the Lyons varieties are among the most common Miller store cards both in circulated and uncirculated condition. All the varieties catalog $10 in xf in Rulau's compilation catalog and should bring 50% to 100% more in that condition on eBay so your venture to the bottom of the box was well worthwhile. The correct catalog number is Miller NY-510, brass, 22mm and it was struck by Scovill of Waterbury, Ct.

From the Rulau catalog: "Emanuel Lyon is listed as a chemist and inventor and maker of rat poisons in the 1849 directory, located at 420 Broadway. His advertisement in that directory claims other distinctions, including Magnetic Powders for destroying bedbugs, cockroaches, fleas, flies, etc."

Great info- thank you!!