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1874 Charles Sumner Memorial Token, 19mm, Copper
This token was struck for and distributed by Philadelphia coin dealer John W. Kline as it was advertised for sale in The Numismatist available for 50 cents shortly after Sumner's death. Made available in White Metal, Gilt Brass, and Copper the later two metal types are quite scarce with the copper variety rarely seen. On the obverse it states "Take Care Of My Civil Rights Bill" which were the final words Sumner uttered to Fredrick Douglas at his bedside and the bill was passed the following year in 1875. Sumner was a leader in the Anti Slavery movement and was nearly killed on the Senate floor in 1856 by South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks the nephew of Andrew Butler. Sumner 2 days earlier mentioned that Butler had a slave mistress in a speech which followed with Brooks seeking him out at his desk and canning him within inches of his life. Brooks not only shattered his cane during the beating (He was sent over 100 new canes by southerners) but also destroyed any pretense of civility between North and South of which many factors conspired to cause the Civil War.
1832-35 Robert B. Ruggles "Gold Beater", New York City, HT-307 / Low-273, Copper. Rarity-1, Beaded Plain Edge, AU @ $295.00 Shipped.
Although rated rarity R-1 this "Arm & Hammer" pictorial token is just commonly seen in VG-VF condition and is extremely tough at the AU level or UNC if one actual exists? The HT-307 appears on the marketplace far less then the HT-308 R-2 variety with a non beaded formed rim plain edge. Eye appealing even medium brown on both sides with minor build up from a brief stay in circulation. A few minor strike troughs which are normal for this type as this token usually seen with hard and crude surfaces. Always seen a little soft in the center of the reverse do to the higher relief obverse and otherwise sharply detailed. Although raw this example is far nicer then any I've encountered in third party graded AU55 holders.
1848-51 Browning Brothers Druggists, Philadelphia, PA, Miller-Pa-59, Brass, 28mm Diameter, CH UNC PL, Rarity-3 @ $295.00 Shipped.
This federal eagle obverse design token has been considered scarce since 1898 by Benjamin Wright, Wayte Raymond considered it rare in 1940. Donald Miller in 1962 valued it at $35.00 which was a lot as Gold was just over $35.00 an ounce. This token has always been described in publications as being 30mm in diameter, but measures in at 28mm. Doing some research this is one of only a few known UNC examples I was able to locate which are all toned, stained, or spotted. This actually looks far better in hand as it's fully proof-like on the obverse and semi on the reverse. The centers are always weak on the reverse along with some details on the obverse eagle along with the minor misalignment. Browning was one of the first druggists in the country that mostly sold natural grown remedies like licorice root and had a factory in Camden, New Jersey that made dyes for fabrics. Provenance wise this was formally in the John Ford Jr. & Max Schwartz collections. Schwartz was a prominent NY token collector in the 1940's with a very discriminating eye for quality. He published numerous articles in The Numismatist and later retired from his law practice to Florida in the 1960's as a exonumia dealer.
1845 Hamilton & White, Chicago, Illinois, Miller Ill-12, 27mm Diameter, Copper, AG @ $195.00 Shipped.
Hamilton & White dealers in Groceries, Produce, and Dry Goods located at 139 Lake Street in Chicago in business from 1844 throughout the late 1850's. The obverse of this popular pictorial token featured a prairie schooner drawn by two horses as a whip is being cracked. The obverse script stated "Going To 139 Lake Street Chicago Illinois" with "Hamilton & White dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Produce 1845" on the reverse. If this wasn't dated 1845 it would fall within the end of the Hard Times tokens era which ended in 1844. Dated 1845 it's one of the earliest U.S. Merchant tokens and the first coin, token, or medal to ever have been stuck with the city name Chicago on it which was incorporated just nearly a decade earlier and had a population of just 12,000 at time of issue. This token was first listed in Charles Ira Bushnell's 1858 An Arrangement of the Tradesmen's Cards, Political Tokens, Election Medals, etc. Alfred H. Satterlee already considered it extremely rare in 1862. Benjamin Wright called stated "this is the rarest of all early available Illinois tokens" which is the same phrase Russell Rulau adapted for all his publications up to 2004. These are all about AG-VF condition with only about a dozen of survivors known. Well centered but crudely struck in low relief on thick 27mm Large cent diameter copper planchets which had been pitted prior to striking. All are missing at least 1/3 of the rim and some script script as the hammer die was uneven or misaligned. Many of the survivors show signs of pitting and lamination striations as issued and have also been damaged such as scratched, bent, holed, double holed, cleaned, dipped, and recolored. Russell Rulau used Donald Millers 1962 price values in all his books so these haven't been revalued in 51 years. The example here although in smooth lower circulated grade is problem free and dark chocolate brown in hand.
This token was struck for and distributed by Philadelphia coin dealer John W. Kline as it was advertised for sale in The Numismatist available for 50 cents shortly after Sumner's death. Made available in White Metal, Gilt Brass, and Copper the later two metal types are quite scarce with the copper variety rarely seen. On the obverse it states "Take Care Of My Civil Rights Bill" which were the final words Sumner uttered to Fredrick Douglas at his bedside and the bill was passed the following year in 1875. Sumner was a leader in the Anti Slavery movement and was nearly killed on the Senate floor in 1856 by South Carolina Representative Preston Brooks the nephew of Andrew Butler. Sumner 2 days earlier mentioned that Butler had a slave mistress in a speech which followed with Brooks seeking him out at his desk and canning him within inches of his life. Brooks not only shattered his cane during the beating (He was sent over 100 new canes by southerners) but also destroyed any pretense of civility between North and South of which many factors conspired to cause the Civil War.
1832-35 Robert B. Ruggles "Gold Beater", New York City, HT-307 / Low-273, Copper. Rarity-1, Beaded Plain Edge, AU @ $295.00 Shipped.
Although rated rarity R-1 this "Arm & Hammer" pictorial token is just commonly seen in VG-VF condition and is extremely tough at the AU level or UNC if one actual exists? The HT-307 appears on the marketplace far less then the HT-308 R-2 variety with a non beaded formed rim plain edge. Eye appealing even medium brown on both sides with minor build up from a brief stay in circulation. A few minor strike troughs which are normal for this type as this token usually seen with hard and crude surfaces. Always seen a little soft in the center of the reverse do to the higher relief obverse and otherwise sharply detailed. Although raw this example is far nicer then any I've encountered in third party graded AU55 holders.
1848-51 Browning Brothers Druggists, Philadelphia, PA, Miller-Pa-59, Brass, 28mm Diameter, CH UNC PL, Rarity-3 @ $295.00 Shipped.
This federal eagle obverse design token has been considered scarce since 1898 by Benjamin Wright, Wayte Raymond considered it rare in 1940. Donald Miller in 1962 valued it at $35.00 which was a lot as Gold was just over $35.00 an ounce. This token has always been described in publications as being 30mm in diameter, but measures in at 28mm. Doing some research this is one of only a few known UNC examples I was able to locate which are all toned, stained, or spotted. This actually looks far better in hand as it's fully proof-like on the obverse and semi on the reverse. The centers are always weak on the reverse along with some details on the obverse eagle along with the minor misalignment. Browning was one of the first druggists in the country that mostly sold natural grown remedies like licorice root and had a factory in Camden, New Jersey that made dyes for fabrics. Provenance wise this was formally in the John Ford Jr. & Max Schwartz collections. Schwartz was a prominent NY token collector in the 1940's with a very discriminating eye for quality. He published numerous articles in The Numismatist and later retired from his law practice to Florida in the 1960's as a exonumia dealer.
1845 Hamilton & White, Chicago, Illinois, Miller Ill-12, 27mm Diameter, Copper, AG @ $195.00 Shipped.
Hamilton & White dealers in Groceries, Produce, and Dry Goods located at 139 Lake Street in Chicago in business from 1844 throughout the late 1850's. The obverse of this popular pictorial token featured a prairie schooner drawn by two horses as a whip is being cracked. The obverse script stated "Going To 139 Lake Street Chicago Illinois" with "Hamilton & White dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, Produce 1845" on the reverse. If this wasn't dated 1845 it would fall within the end of the Hard Times tokens era which ended in 1844. Dated 1845 it's one of the earliest U.S. Merchant tokens and the first coin, token, or medal to ever have been stuck with the city name Chicago on it which was incorporated just nearly a decade earlier and had a population of just 12,000 at time of issue. This token was first listed in Charles Ira Bushnell's 1858 An Arrangement of the Tradesmen's Cards, Political Tokens, Election Medals, etc. Alfred H. Satterlee already considered it extremely rare in 1862. Benjamin Wright called stated "this is the rarest of all early available Illinois tokens" which is the same phrase Russell Rulau adapted for all his publications up to 2004. These are all about AG-VF condition with only about a dozen of survivors known. Well centered but crudely struck in low relief on thick 27mm Large cent diameter copper planchets which had been pitted prior to striking. All are missing at least 1/3 of the rim and some script script as the hammer die was uneven or misaligned. Many of the survivors show signs of pitting and lamination striations as issued and have also been damaged such as scratched, bent, holed, double holed, cleaned, dipped, and recolored. Russell Rulau used Donald Millers 1962 price values in all his books so these haven't been revalued in 51 years. The example here although in smooth lower circulated grade is problem free and dark chocolate brown in hand.
To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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