Lovett Token... Thank you Ambro51!
UconnL
Posts: 166
Thank you for the GREAT lesson about our proud historical past!
Here are the pics!
Thank you Ambro51!
The Marshall House Token by Bill Groom
Civil War tokens, of which there are around 11,000 varieties known, are generally dated between the years
of 1861-64. There are some tokens, dated 1860, that have long been recognized as belonging to that
collecting genre by virtue of their having been listed in books. Historical hairsplitting aside, there may never
be a consensus of agreement among serious collectors as to what properly defines the fabric of a Civil War
token.
For this writer’s money, the 1859-dated Marshall House token fits quite neatly into any collection of Civil
War tokens. As is the case with most Civil War tokens, the Marshall House token is cent-size copper, and
given the well-worn condition of many survivors, it generally saw circulation as a cent-substitute. Lady
Liberty is crowned with a Phrygian cap that has served as a symbol of freedom for over twenty-five hundred
years. The engraver was Robert Lovett, Jr., a Philadelphian who subsequently utilized this design element on
the famous Confederate Cent; and, many varieties of Civil War tokens as well. Beyond the obvious physical
similarity of the Marshall House token to many varieties of Civil War tokens, history has indelibly linked
this particular token to the Civil War.
The Marshall House, located in Alexandria, Virginia, still stands today, situated across the Potomac from
Washington, D.C. In 1861, the owner, James T. Jackson, a diehard Confederate, saw fit to brazenly fly the
stars and bars atop his hotel which was in view of the White House. This proved to be a more than mild
irritant to residents of Washington; especially so, following the surrender of Fort Sumter in April.
--2--
On May 24, 1861, Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, then aged but twenty-four years, led his colorful Zouave
soldiers across the Potomac to take possession of Alexandria. Colonel Ellsworth, himself, took a small
detachment into the Marshall House, and he personally climbed a ladder atop the roof in order to strike the
Confederate flag. Upon descending the stairway, flag in hand, Ellsworth was met with a shotgun blast to his
breast, a mortal wound, fired by Jackson. Ellsworth’s aide, Corporal Brownell promptly dispatched Jackson.
Colonel Ellsworth thus became the first Union officer to be killed in the Civil War, and Corporal Brownell
earned national recognition as the “Avenger.” Ellsworth, whom Abe Lincoln regarded as a son, was mourned
across the northern states. “Remember Ellsworth” became a familiar patriotic slogan. His biography,
“Colonel Elmer Ellsworth” by Ruth Painter Randall, makes for interesting period reading.
It’s estimated that less than five hundred specimens of the Marshall House token have survived, and they are
rarely seen in condition that exceeds extra fine. The date, 1859, is typically weakly struck, possessing a faint
“9” in comparison to other elements. Price-wise, these tokens have tended to sell in the $30-$50 range for
midrange grades of fine. Yet, as knowledge of their Civil War connection spreads, and the sesqui- centennial
of the Civil War looms on the horizon, collector interest and value will undoubtedly grow.
COINfucious says: “Baker who carelessly drop his cents into dough may end up with penny rolls.”
Here are the pics!
Thank you Ambro51!
The Marshall House Token by Bill Groom
Civil War tokens, of which there are around 11,000 varieties known, are generally dated between the years
of 1861-64. There are some tokens, dated 1860, that have long been recognized as belonging to that
collecting genre by virtue of their having been listed in books. Historical hairsplitting aside, there may never
be a consensus of agreement among serious collectors as to what properly defines the fabric of a Civil War
token.
For this writer’s money, the 1859-dated Marshall House token fits quite neatly into any collection of Civil
War tokens. As is the case with most Civil War tokens, the Marshall House token is cent-size copper, and
given the well-worn condition of many survivors, it generally saw circulation as a cent-substitute. Lady
Liberty is crowned with a Phrygian cap that has served as a symbol of freedom for over twenty-five hundred
years. The engraver was Robert Lovett, Jr., a Philadelphian who subsequently utilized this design element on
the famous Confederate Cent; and, many varieties of Civil War tokens as well. Beyond the obvious physical
similarity of the Marshall House token to many varieties of Civil War tokens, history has indelibly linked
this particular token to the Civil War.
The Marshall House, located in Alexandria, Virginia, still stands today, situated across the Potomac from
Washington, D.C. In 1861, the owner, James T. Jackson, a diehard Confederate, saw fit to brazenly fly the
stars and bars atop his hotel which was in view of the White House. This proved to be a more than mild
irritant to residents of Washington; especially so, following the surrender of Fort Sumter in April.
--2--
On May 24, 1861, Colonel Elmer Ellsworth, then aged but twenty-four years, led his colorful Zouave
soldiers across the Potomac to take possession of Alexandria. Colonel Ellsworth, himself, took a small
detachment into the Marshall House, and he personally climbed a ladder atop the roof in order to strike the
Confederate flag. Upon descending the stairway, flag in hand, Ellsworth was met with a shotgun blast to his
breast, a mortal wound, fired by Jackson. Ellsworth’s aide, Corporal Brownell promptly dispatched Jackson.
Colonel Ellsworth thus became the first Union officer to be killed in the Civil War, and Corporal Brownell
earned national recognition as the “Avenger.” Ellsworth, whom Abe Lincoln regarded as a son, was mourned
across the northern states. “Remember Ellsworth” became a familiar patriotic slogan. His biography,
“Colonel Elmer Ellsworth” by Ruth Painter Randall, makes for interesting period reading.
It’s estimated that less than five hundred specimens of the Marshall House token have survived, and they are
rarely seen in condition that exceeds extra fine. The date, 1859, is typically weakly struck, possessing a faint
“9” in comparison to other elements. Price-wise, these tokens have tended to sell in the $30-$50 range for
midrange grades of fine. Yet, as knowledge of their Civil War connection spreads, and the sesqui- centennial
of the Civil War looms on the horizon, collector interest and value will undoubtedly grow.
COINfucious says: “Baker who carelessly drop his cents into dough may end up with penny rolls.”
Liberty Loan Bond Man
0
Comments
Heres another one by Robert Lovett, this is the Magnolia Hotel Token. Though you see this french liberty bust over and over and over in CWTs the only ones that are truly Lovetts work are the ones with the rearmost star on the headband half obscured. A very minor little detail, probably overlooked by most everyone now and then, but it was his 'trademark' with the design.
can a Token struck before or after the Civil War really be called a Civil War Token?? neat Token, BTW.