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Beck’s Public Baths Token, Virginia. Richmond, HT-441 / Low-275.
One of the most famous 19th century tokens listed in The 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens by Q. David Bowers and Katherine Jaeger as their number 86.
While today we may think that, per the saying “cleanliness is next to godliness” it was not always so. In the period from about 1832 to 1844 when Charles Beck distributed his Beck’s Public Baths tokens in Richmond Virginia as bathing was an occasional experience at best. Houses did not have indoor plumbing and for most people in the city the closest thing to a bath was wiping with a soapy wet cloth. Across the country some academies and boarding schools made it an offense to bathe in the colder months as the practice being deemed unhealthy. For those who desired to bathe public baths were operated in most of the larger cities. Records show that in 1832 Charles Beck was a confectioner and the operator of a bathing facility. The baths were in operation until at least 1844. These tokens about the size of a quarter dollar may have circulated locally as currency or more likely they were used as admission checks.
In 1859 New York City numismatist Charles I. Bushnell published An Arrangement of Tradesmen’s Cards, Political Tokens. Soon the Beck’s token became a favorite with it’s somewhat risqué depiction of a nude woman. Naturally the popularity for this token was immediate and widespread due to the finely engraved naked woman on the obverse. Collectors with an eye for beauty eagerly latched onto these Beck’s Public Baths tokens at an early time. Demand has always exceeded supply since they were first noticed in Bushnell’s early reference.
One of the most famous 19th century tokens listed in The 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens by Q. David Bowers and Katherine Jaeger as their number 86.
While today we may think that, per the saying “cleanliness is next to godliness” it was not always so. In the period from about 1832 to 1844 when Charles Beck distributed his Beck’s Public Baths tokens in Richmond Virginia as bathing was an occasional experience at best. Houses did not have indoor plumbing and for most people in the city the closest thing to a bath was wiping with a soapy wet cloth. Across the country some academies and boarding schools made it an offense to bathe in the colder months as the practice being deemed unhealthy. For those who desired to bathe public baths were operated in most of the larger cities. Records show that in 1832 Charles Beck was a confectioner and the operator of a bathing facility. The baths were in operation until at least 1844. These tokens about the size of a quarter dollar may have circulated locally as currency or more likely they were used as admission checks.
In 1859 New York City numismatist Charles I. Bushnell published An Arrangement of Tradesmen’s Cards, Political Tokens. Soon the Beck’s token became a favorite with it’s somewhat risqué depiction of a nude woman. Naturally the popularity for this token was immediate and widespread due to the finely engraved naked woman on the obverse. Collectors with an eye for beauty eagerly latched onto these Beck’s Public Baths tokens at an early time. Demand has always exceeded supply since they were first noticed in Bushnell’s early reference.
To Err Is Human.... To Collect Err's Is Just Too Much Darn Tootin Fun!
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Here's a one-of-a-kind 1786 Vermont Landscape Copper. Ryder 6 obverse with a crude, hand-etched, 1785-style reverse. Late state Ryder 6's often come with very weak reverses so someone, a long while ago, took it upon themselves to sharpen it up and the result is quite charming to my eye.
Interestingly, it resides in a PCGS holder graded VG details and with the simple qualifier "Planchet Flaw." Yup, I guess "Planchet Flaw" covers it!
From online Numismatic Mall.com
Chubbuck, Samuel Winchester (1799-1875), Inventor, Silversmith and Metal Worker, Mechanic, and Numismatist.
Around 1844 the New York and Buffalo Telegraph was scheduled to run lines into Utica, New York. Mr. Fargo and Hon. T. S. Faxton were the key citizens
of Utica instrumental in the installation of the telegraphic lines. Chubbuck received four orders to manufacture telegraphic instruments at the behest of Morse
who preferred Chubbuck’s invention over his own. He made the first telegraphic instrument ever manufactured, and subsequently made thousands of them.
He furnished all the instruments for the Washington and Baltimore telegraph lines, and most of the instruments for the Montreal Telegraph Company.
Although Chubbuck designed the prototype models of telegraphic instruments and made improvements on them he never filed any patent on them wishing
them to be free for the public good. About 1865 his son Arinaldo S. Chubbuck purchased the telegraphic instruments department of his father’s company.
After turning over the telegraphic industry to his son he devoted his remaining years to developing other scientific instruments in the field of optics, mathematics,
and the so-called philosophical field.
Numismatic Career :
He purchased many pieces from Dr. J. E. Barratt, of Jefferson, New York, mentioned by Dr. C. E. Fraser, MD, of Rome, New York in the introduction to his coin
auction catalog dated March 27, 1879, held at Bangs & Co.
His first collection sale was of 348 lots sold through Thomas Birch & Co., on February 18, 1873. His second sale was conducted by John W. Haseltine, also at T. Birch & Son
on February 25-28, 1873. The catalog features one plate with large cents 1793-1833. Only fifty plated catalogs were issued and they are considered a rarity.
Ca. 1860 S. W. Chubbuck. Miller NY-1061.
Copper. 32 Mm. MS-65 RD NGC.
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
Is that some mint red on your Ryder 10?!
<< <i>The Chubbuck token is interesting and shows the difference between the telegraph Morse code and the radio Morse code... significant differences. Cheers, RickO >>
Yes, the Morse code isn't quite as nerdy as the telegraph code.
peacockcoins
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
The Penny Lady®
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Very nice - can't figure out what it is, but this coin really draws me in - and I'm not a copper guy!
Beautiful!! Love it!
Chris' Complete Lincoln Variety Set 1909-date
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way nice lincoln cent ya got there. i like
My Ebay
1934-1958 RB Lincoln Short Set
Here's a token that I had written off as I didn't think a fully struck example existed and I wasn't eager to own a crude mushy strike. Normally on everything from the shield up is just a blob of copper with a dent for what's supposed to resemble and eye and same with the claws. My images do not do it justice as this early die stage also has fully proof like fields on the obverse and semi proof like reverse fields. Along with being the best struck example it was also neat to see it was pedigreed to Miller and Litman who formed two of the top collections of HTT's. So on a provenance coolness factor Charles Litman purchased Donald Miller's collection and Donald Miller with the aid of Charles Dupont purchased George Tilden's collection so this token is traceable to the turn of the century. Meaningless to most all of you but I thought it was a neat bonus as I didn't pay for the pedigree... Just the strike!
Hoard the keys.
Don't forget the glamor shots
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CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
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Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
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More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
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Now that's some great copper! And two from the same date....!!!
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Geez Bullsitter, that's quite a coin. Are you determined to keep that?
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<< <i>Thread killer...
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How about this one?
My Collection of Old Holders
Never a slave to one plastic brand will I ever be.
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<< <i>Thread killer...
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How about this one?
W! T! F! !!!
AKA WTF!
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Geez Bullsitter, that's quite a coin. Are you determined to keep that? >>
Thank you, and it's a keeper. Won it on Ebay a few years ago for $49.88.
Coins for Sale: Both Graded and Ungraded
https://photos.app.goo.gl/oqym2YtcS7ZAZ73D6