(1870) A.A. Plastridge merchant token with reverse steel die

DCW

Miller RI-20, A.A. Plastridge. "WHAT CHEER" Providence, Rhode Island (circa 1870) NGC MS65:


Miller lists this token as the work of Joseph H. Merriam, the famous Boston die sinker who is presumed to have died in Providence, RI around 1870. If true, this would certainly be one of the last tokens he made, if not THE last one. Schenkman chose not to list it in his 1980 article on Merriam in the Numismatist, stating he uncovered "nothing to indicate it was struck by Merriam." However, we know Merriam made another token for A.A. Plastridge (listed as Miller RI-19) and that one bears his traditional MERRIAM stamp. The design is strikingly similar, and to me it is of the same hand.
I purchased the reverse die off of eBay last year and was happy to score the above token from Steve Hayden's recent auction.


There is something about holding a steel die in one's hands that is quite a connection to the man that engraved it.
Thanks for looking!

ms70

It would be cool if you could make a modern strike for yourself with it out of silver.

DCW

@ms70 said:
It would be cool if you could make a modern strike for yourself with it out of silver.

Well, I couldn't but I know somebody who could...paging @dcarr ?

Would certainly be cool if it were a more well known die or could be proven to be from the hand of Joseph Merriam

dcarr

@DCW said:

@ms70 said:
It would be cool if you could make a modern strike for yourself with it out of silver.

Well, I couldn't but I know somebody who could...paging @dcarr ?

Would certainly be cool if it were a more well known die or could be proven to be from the hand of Joseph Merriam

That would be technically possible, although the die shank on that one is odd. It would require the fabrication of a special die holder for it.

ricko

Unique piece... I hope you can find evidence that conclusively ties it to the maker. Cheers, RickO