~ Copper 4 The Weekend™ ~

Broadstruck

1874 Charles Sumner Memorial Token, 19mm, Copper

This has an immense amount of history and I'll just skim the surface. This token was struck for and distributed by Philadelphia coin dealer John William 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 southern supporters) but also destroyed any pretense of civility between North and South of which many factors conspired to cause the Civil War.

Zoins

That's a great story behind the piece. The condition, scarcity and the doubling is cool too,especially the doubling.

In addition to knowing this was struck for and distributed by John William Kline, do we know who this was engraved by and struck by?

Chas Sumner (Wikipedia) was a Massachusetts senator and served from 1851 to 1874.



Preston Brooks (Wikipedia) served from 1856-1857, a much shorter period of time. His attack led many Congressmen to start carrying knives and other concealed weapons.



Here's a political cartoon on Southern Chivalry from J.L. Magee:



Thanks for the post and write up

ctf_error_coins

Broadstruck, when is your token book coming out You are a wealth of knowledge.

Also, when are you going to get back into errors? There would be pluses and minuses for me if you did, but on the whole it would be all good

fivecents

Bullsitter

Nice story and medal. I look forward to this thread every week....

Broadstruck

<< <i>do we know who this was engraved by and struck by? >>



Thanks Zoins for posting all the additional info and images as I was a bit rushed earlier just trying to get something up for the C4TW thread

I haven't been able to figure out who the die sinker was for this token?

It's well executed and with Kline being located in Philadelphia I assume it was someone in the city as there was definitely enough talent on hand for the task.



<< <i>Broadstruck, when is your token book coming out You are a wealth of knowledge.

Also, when are you going to get back into errors? There would be pluses and minuses for me if you did, but on the whole it would be all good >>



Thanks EOC... I still love mint errors but am having way too much fun with exonumia right now

Icollecteverything

ambro51

Beautiful unmarked large cent. Awesome

blacksmoke

This is always fun

lostincoins

coinsarefun

ricko

Wow..that 1837 cent is gorgeous.... and thanks for the history on the token Broadstruck...Cheers, RickO

johnny9434

<< <i>Wow..that 1837 cent is gorgeous.... and thanks for the history on the token Broadstruck...Cheers, RickO >>

no kidding, i like that 1908 s indian head cent as well

Icollecteverything

Thank you Ambro, Ricko, and Johnny for the kind comments on my large cent. It is actually even a little nicer than my photo shows, glossy and sharp. I got this one in a Bowers and Merena auction years ago that was called "Four Landmark Collections" that I think went on for four days.

I really like Broadstrucks token, once again it's the unique borders that capture my eye. But I hate to pick one out since I could look at nice old copper all day long.