Mormon 1846 "Do Your Duty" token
Hussulo
Posts: 2,953 ✭✭✭
Can anyone give me some info on these please?
I'm looking for mintage numbers, types, value if possible?
I've had a look online and can find very little on them. There's a lot of places selling replicas but little info on the real tokens. The only place I can find a picture of them is here:
rsc.byu.ed
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An interesting reference I found online was:
"It has been discovered that in 1846 a Mormon named Peter Haws crossed the plains with the exiled Mormons and was the leader of a wagon company. Haws was also a private coiner and had been indicted in Nauvoo for counterfeiting U.S. coins. (It was noted that his counterfeits were of excellent quality.) While camped at Garden Grove, Iowa Territory, it was reported that Haws had his coining press in his wagon. To help pass the time, he was up to his old tricks and was again minting base-metal coins. On 12 May 1846 Brigham Young even came over to Haws' wagon and reproved him for this... Nevertheless, the Mormon leader left Haws in charge of his wagon company, and Haws came to the Great Salt Lake Valley." (Mormon and Utah Coin and Currency, pages 34-35)
Apparently while camped in Iowa Territory, Church member Peter Haws created this brass coin. He embossed one side with a beehive and the slogan "Do Your Duty." On the other side, he embossed hands clasped together with the motto "Union Is Strength." The coins were used as currency among Church members throughout Pottawattamie County.
I'm looking for mintage numbers, types, value if possible?
I've had a look online and can find very little on them. There's a lot of places selling replicas but little info on the real tokens. The only place I can find a picture of them is here:
rsc.byu.ed
An interesting reference I found online was:
"It has been discovered that in 1846 a Mormon named Peter Haws crossed the plains with the exiled Mormons and was the leader of a wagon company. Haws was also a private coiner and had been indicted in Nauvoo for counterfeiting U.S. coins. (It was noted that his counterfeits were of excellent quality.) While camped at Garden Grove, Iowa Territory, it was reported that Haws had his coining press in his wagon. To help pass the time, he was up to his old tricks and was again minting base-metal coins. On 12 May 1846 Brigham Young even came over to Haws' wagon and reproved him for this... Nevertheless, the Mormon leader left Haws in charge of his wagon company, and Haws came to the Great Salt Lake Valley." (Mormon and Utah Coin and Currency, pages 34-35)
Apparently while camped in Iowa Territory, Church member Peter Haws created this brass coin. He embossed one side with a beehive and the slogan "Do Your Duty." On the other side, he embossed hands clasped together with the motto "Union Is Strength." The coins were used as currency among Church members throughout Pottawattamie County.
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Comments
In 1888 Chapman's sold one - 'Only one we have ever seen'. (Haines:12)
In 1894 the Chapman's sold another, described it as 'excessively-rare' (Isaac Wood:783a) Neither were noted as holed.
The Numismatist, July 1911, Edgar Adams discusses it - page 240. Plated. But no discussion on origin or who made it.
What you really need is a book called Mormon Money by L. McGarry. It is an offprint from the Numismatist, 1962. That token is in there. I don't have a copy but you want pages 7-8. (Or you can get the Numismatist issues from Sep-Dec 1950). I found a copy of that book on Amazon for $10.
They are very scare but not as rare as once thought 100 years ago.
Still nearly impossible to find in high grade without issues.
PM member EXOJUNKIE as I believe he could offer more info on these then anyone else here.
Strange item to find over here in the UK
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
1846-Dated, Rulau R-Y4, Do Your Duty, Brass
And here is a common replica:
The differences are pretty obvious.
ANA LM
USAF Retired — 34 years of active military service! 🇺🇸
Thanks guys I'll check out your leads. I bought it on a hunch. I know Mormon gold coins are scarce, highly collectable and out of my reach, so I couldn't pass on a chance to own a bit of Mormon history. Hope my one is genuine.
Strange item to find over here in the UK
Not the least bit strange. The LDS (Mormon) church had an active missionary program in the UK. In the 19th century, new converts were encouraged to emigrate to the U.S. (to colonize Mormon settlements in the western territories). Ditto for missions sent to other parts of Western Europe, particularly Scandinavia.
RMR: 'Wer, wenn ich schriee, hörte mich denn aus der Engel Ordnungen?'
CJ: 'No one!' [Ain't no angels in the coin biz]
Thanks guys I'll check out your leads. I bought it on a hunch. I know Mormon gold coins are scarce, highly collectable and out of my reach, so I couldn't pass on a chance to own a bit of Mormon history. Hope my one is genuine.
Strange item to find over here in the UK
Not the least bit strange. The LDS (Mormon) church had an active missionary program in the UK. In the 19th century, new converts were encouraged to emigrate to the U.S. (to colonize Mormon settlements in the western territories). Ditto for missions sent to other parts of Western Europe, particularly Scandinavia.
That makes perfect sense. Thanks. Perhaps that's why mine was hoped, as a keep sake.
I'm going to attempt to load a couple of images of an authentic . Here you go:
1846-Dated, Rulau R-Y4, Do Your Duty, Brass
And here is a common replica:
The differences are pretty obvious.
That's brilliant Exo, very much appreciated.
I'll try to post larger images of mine below.