Copper 4 the Weekend

DCW · January 20, 2018 5:01PM

Where's the thread this week? I guess I'll take the reins.
Daniel Webster/Joseph Merriam Storecard reverse 31mm in Copper.

This is oodles rarer than the more commonly seen Liberty & Union "I still live" reverse, which were reportedly the great statesman's dying words. And this is a lovely, nearly full red medal from the Q. David Bowers Reference Set.
Joseph Merriam was a reknowned medalist in Boston during the American Civil War who issued a series of medals and tokens honoring Presidential Candidates, politicians, and celebrities of the day. All are scarce and some are downright rare, known only by a single example.
Post your copper for the weekend, boys and girls!

coinsarefun · January 20, 2018 5:41PM

Nice one @DCW
.
Below is a Political I have not seen before except for this one. Prolly
doesn’t mean that much but I really like the pose of his head on this one
along with the large Eagle on reverse with die crack.
.
.
1860-3 copper Steven A Douglas Campaign token Engraver Benjamin True
.
.

EXOJUNKIE · January 20, 2018 8:51PM

ricko · January 21, 2018 7:26AM

Nice campaign token Stef.... I like that and have not seen that one before. Cheers, RickO

Broadstruck · January 21, 2018 7:40AM

The first time the Windy "Stinky Onion" City's name was ever featured on a token -

1845 Hamilton & White, Chicago, Illinois, Miller Ill-12, 27mm Diameter, Copper.

Robert P. Hamilton and M.L. White were dealers in Dry Goods, Groceries, and Produce located at 139 Lake Street in Chicago. Their partnership was formed in 1844 and in business together until 1853. 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 a few years earlier in 1837 and had a population of just 12,000 at time of issue. The name "Chicago" is the French version of the Miami-Illinois word shikaakwa "Stinky Onion" named for the plants common along the Chicago river and in the language of the Potowatomi Indian tribe means "Wild Onion and Smelly". 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. The actual maker of this token has never been confirmed however in 1845 Lake Street actually had two die sinkers Waller located at 77 and White at 72. 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 sized 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. The example seen here is one of the finest extant and provenance wise was formally in the Julian Liedman collection of which I've included the 1986 B&M/PCAC sale plates which I matched this to after purchase.

WildIdea · January 21, 2018 7:51AM

Something form the teletrade days.

metalmeister · January 21, 2018 10:43AM

cardinal · January 21, 2018 11:02AM

Zoins · January 21, 2018 11:17AM

@coinsarefun said:
Nice one @DCW
.
Below is a Political I have not seen before except for this one. Prolly
doesn’t mean that much but I really like the pose of his head on this one
along with the large Eagle on reverse with die crack.
.
.
1860-3 copper Steven A Douglas Campaign token Engraver Benjamin True
.
.

That's a very nice looking token Stef! Is this by the Benjamin C. True from Troy, NY:

http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v07n18a11.html

Troy, NY engravers Benjamin C. and Daniel True, who produced some of the Hard Times tokens of that city.

coinsarefun · January 21, 2018 11:41AM

@Zoins Yes Benjamin True did many Campaign and other tokens
One link here under the tokens there is a" dot" to click to a second page.
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Another Link
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Getting a little of track but still on Political's......
And some of the forgotten candidates.
If you scroll down to the last one I have the gold gilt person of TILDEN’S “CONVENTION” BITTERS
.
.Actually looks much better and proof like in hand.

Icollecteverything · January 21, 2018 4:30PM

Here is one of the most common SCD's but I thought the lighting made it look like they are just starting working the field at sunrise or maybe they are getting one last run at sunset, I can't decide.

Copper 4 the Weekend

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