NEWP: H. Mulligan Watches Storecard

kaz · July 9, 2011 12:23AM

yesterday I received this storecard, which I won in one of Stefanie's ebay auctions. It's copper, which apparently is not one of the listed metals for this issue. I don't have any references for this piece, so any information as to scarcity and historical significance would be appreciated... It's mostly orange-red, and the eagle side has rather prooflike fields. On the side with the text, there are a few small carbon spots, and a tiny speck of verdi on the first 4. It's half-dollar size. Thanks, Stefanie!

NewEnglandRarities · July 9, 2011 1:14AM

This is a Merchant token of Philadelphia for the jeweler. It does not seem to be listed in Rulau as being struck in copper, so it is most likely quite rare in that metal. According to Rulau, "Mulligan appears at Cortland Place in 1852. Then at 272 North 2nd St. in 1853-1857. In 1860 he claimed to have the largest wholesale and retail stock of watches in the country." There was also a Civil War Token Store Card made for the same Merchant made sometime a couple years later. The Miller 370 listed on the slab refers to the Brass/Plain Edge striking, not a copper striking, so if indeed the piece is copper, it should have a new number, something like Miller 370C.

kaz · July 9, 2011 1:39AM

Thanks very much! The edge on this one is reeded.

BigE · July 9, 2011 2:47AM

Wow! Very nice Kaz, and in amazing red condition too! Congratulations-------------BigE

coinsarefun · July 9, 2011 4:03AM

<< This is a Merchant token of Philadelphia for the jeweler. It does not seem to be listed in Rulau as being struck in copper, so it is most likely quite rare in that metal. According to Rulau, "Mulligan appears at Cortland Place in 1852. Then at 272 North 2nd St. in 1853-1857. In 1860 he claimed to have the largest wholesale and retail stock of watches in the country." There was also a Civil War Token Store Card made for the same Merchant made sometime a couple years later. The Miller 370 listed on the slab refers to the Brass/Plain Edge striking, not a copper striking, so if indeed the piece is copper, it should have a new number, something like Miller 370C. >>

When I spoke to the token guy at NGC I too asked the question why they don't designate a different number and they said they can't.
It has to been done by the token book reference. Hence they did specific gravity tests and stated on the slab it's copper.

I also asked them if they know of any others in copper and he said not that he can remember,
That's why they did the tests on the planchet.

Great buy and I'm happy it went to a member here.

NewEnglandRarities · July 9, 2011 4:19AM

<< 

<< This is a Merchant token of Philadelphia for the jeweler. It does not seem to be listed in Rulau as being struck in copper, so it is most likely quite rare in that metal. According to Rulau, "Mulligan appears at Cortland Place in 1852. Then at 272 North 2nd St. in 1853-1857. In 1860 he claimed to have the largest wholesale and retail stock of watches in the country." There was also a Civil War Token Store Card made for the same Merchant made sometime a couple years later. The Miller 370 listed on the slab refers to the Brass/Plain Edge striking, not a copper striking, so if indeed the piece is copper, it should have a new number, something like Miller 370C. >>

When I spoke to the token guy at NGC I too asked the question why they don't designate a different number and they said they can't.
It has to been done by the token book reference. Hence they did specific gravity tests and stated on the slab it's copper.

I also asked them if they know of any others in copper and he said not that he can remember,
That's why they did the tests on the planchet.

Great buy and I'm happy it went to a member here. >>

Hey Stefanie,

I figured that someone other than NGC would have to designate the copper strike a different variety that what listed already.

It is a very nice piece!

Broadstruck · July 9, 2011 6:59AM

Nice pick-up kaz... I was a bottom of the list underbidder on that one.

One of my favorite things with these old tokens is to pop the address into Google maps and see what's there now.

kaz · July 9, 2011 7:33AM

Thanks for the additional information about the s.g. tests Stefanie. Your photos did a good job of showing how the coin really looks. Broadstruck, I'll give the Google maps suggestion a try, thanks.

kaz · July 9, 2011 10:44AM

Well, 444 N. 2nd St. in Phila. Pa now consists of a parking lot and a string of monotonous brick buildings, most prominently a business called
"Everything Plastic." **sigh**

Zoins · July 9, 2011 10:55AM

Do any period storecard issuers still exist? Did any exist into the 1900s?

coinsarefun · July 9, 2011 11:05AM

<< Do any period storecard issuers still exist? Did any exist into the 1900s? >>

Yes, there are a few. I forget right now. Maybe broadstruct can tell us.
I think one is the one wight the PeacQck on it.
They don't let you use" that" work here.........lol

coinsarefun · July 9, 2011 11:29AM

C.D. PeacQck est 1837
Chicago, Il. Time is Money
Ca. 1900 Gorham

The forum software won't let me link it, but if you type in cdpeacQck.com you will see its still open. of course substituting the Q for an o

Zoins · July 9, 2011 11:42AM

<< C.D. Peacock est 1837
Chicago, Il. Time is Money
Ca. 1900 Gorham

The forum software won't let me link it, but if you type in cdpeacock.com you will see its still open. of course substituting the Q for an o >>

Very cool, maybe C.D.Peacock could be convinced to release an updated version

I still haven't figured out how to make it work in a link yet.

coinsarefun · July 9, 2011 11:51AM

Cool........hadja do dat?

Zoins · July 9, 2011 11:58AM

"You have to learn why things work on a starship"

I used the ASCII code for o

Type the following for the letter o without the space:

& #111;

coinsarefun · July 9, 2011 12:03PM

<< "You have to learn why things work on a starship"

I used the ASCII code for o

Type the following for the letter o without the space:

& #111; >>

I Should have known better

That's why I use templates or web software to design websites

Broadstruck · July 9, 2011 10:28PM

HT-M21

HT-M23

kaz · July 9, 2011 10:45PM

Those are just.... TOO COOL!

Zoins · July 10, 2011 4:04AM

<< 

<< "You have to learn why things work on a starship"

I used the ASCII code for o

Type the following for the letter o without the space:

& #111; >>

I Should have known better

That's why I use templates or web software to design websites

>>

I figured you might recognize the technique

From your main website, it looks like you have a nice, creative streak all yourself, no templates needed!

Do you run your website and forums yourself?

coinsarefun · July 10, 2011 5:05AM

<< 

<< 

<< "You have to learn why things work on a starship"

I used the ASCII code for o

Type the following for the letter o without the space:

& #111; >>

I Should have known better

That's why I use templates or web software to design websites

>>

I figured you might recognize the technique

From your main website, it looks like you might nice, creative streak all yourself, no templates needed!

Do you run your website and forums yourself? >>

Yes and its growing by leaps and bounds

Broadstruck · January 18, 2012 1:25AM

<< This is a Merchant token of Philadelphia for the jeweler. It does not seem to be listed in Rulau as being struck in copper, so it is most likely quite rare in that metal. According to Rulau, "Mulligan appears at Cortland Place in 1852. Then at 272 North 2nd St. in 1853-1857. In 1860 he claimed to have the largest wholesale and retail stock of watches in the country." There was also a Civil War Token Store Card made for the same Merchant made sometime a couple years later. The Miller 370 listed on the slab refers to the Brass/Plain Edge striking, not a copper striking, so if indeed the piece is copper, it should have a new number, something like Miller 370C. >>

Just looking through a copy of Edgar Adams 1920 "U.S. Store Cards" and Donald Miller's 1962 "A Catalogue of U.S. Store Cards or Merchant Tokens" and noticed the H. Mulligan store cards...

Both Adams and Miller have numbers 370, 371, 372, and 373 assigned to this token in various metal strikings along with Silver which is also not mentioned by Rulau.

NGC only uses Russell Rulau's books as gospel for their designation.

NewEnglandRarities · January 18, 2012 6:07AM

<< 

<< This is a Merchant token of Philadelphia for the jeweler. It does not seem to be listed in Rulau as being struck in copper, so it is most likely quite rare in that metal. According to Rulau, "Mulligan appears at Cortland Place in 1852. Then at 272 North 2nd St. in 1853-1857. In 1860 he claimed to have the largest wholesale and retail stock of watches in the country." There was also a Civil War Token Store Card made for the same Merchant made sometime a couple years later. The Miller 370 listed on the slab refers to the Brass/Plain Edge striking, not a copper striking, so if indeed the piece is copper, it should have a new number, something like Miller 370C. >>

Just looking through a copy of Edgar Adams 1920 "U.S. Store Cards" and Donald Miller's 1962 "A Catalogue of U.S. Store Cards or Merchant Tokens" and noticed the H. Mulligan store cards...

Both Adams and Miller have numbers 370, 371, 372, and 373 assigned to this token in various metal strikings along with Silver which is also not mentioned by Rulau.

NGC only uses Russell Rulau's books as gospel for their designation.

>>

Cool info Broadstruck. I figured that Rulau would have known that information. Maybe just an oversight (major one at that) in his book.

BillJones · January 18, 2012 6:26AM

Mr. Mulligan also issued two "way cool" Civil War tokens.

This one, PA 750 O-1b is rated as an R-5, but I've only seen one other one. The pocket watch kind of jumps out at you when you see this piece in person.

This second one falls into the "They loved themselves" category because it has Mr. Mulligan's portrait on it. The Fuld number is PA 750 O-2b. It is rated as an R-6.

kaz · January 18, 2012 7:58AM

Appreciate the update, Broadstruck; and thanks to Bill Jones we have a face to go with the name. Great tokens, Bill. I love that pocket watch.

Zoins · October 11, 2020 6:55AM

Old Thread Revival

Wow, can't believe I posted on this thread way back in 2011.

I finally have a Hugh Mulligan Watch Importers Civil War Token and found this thread while doing research on the company.

This is a rare silver specimen (Fuld PA-750O-2f) similar to the one @BillJones posted above. I agree with the ego part of the design but I also appreciate these because they let us look back and see how people dressed back then. I especially love to see beard styles from the 1800s and this one is no exception! This one also looks double struck.

Does anyone know the die sinker for this? I looked around but couldn't find information in my usual places.

This one also comes with the longest provenance chain I've seen for a Civil War Token so far:

Michael Parkoff
Q. David Bowers
Walter Korzick
Paul Koppenhaver
Sol Kaplan
Virgil Michael Brand

coinsarefun · October 11, 2020 7:50AM

Very cool @Zoins ,haven’t seen this one before. Love it.

kaz · October 11, 2020 9:54AM

That's a great looking token. I traded the one in the OP to Broadstruck for something else, an HTT, probably.

DCW · October 11, 2020 3:34PM

Really love your new pickup, John. A very striking piece!

Zoins · October 11, 2020 4:09PM

Thanks Stef, kaz, Dennis. I thought it was a striking piece so I'm happy to add it to my CWT merchant store card collection.

It's too bad the address is a parking lot now. It would have been great to see some recent photos and visit the location.

Given how large his company was ("In 1860 he claimed to have the largest wholesale and retail stock of watches in the country."), are there any ads for hiss company or other surviving materials like boxes, etc.? I did a quick search but didn't turn up anything.

ricko · October 12, 2020 5:57AM

@Zoins .... Nice CWT... I agree about the beard styles of the time... They varied, but it seems individual styles were part of the ego trip back then...I have some books that deal with the Civil War period, and often find myself looking at the various whisker displays... almost an unspoken competition. Cheers, RickO

tokenpro · October 12, 2020 7:45AM

@Zoins said:
Thanks Stef, kaz, Dennis. I thought it was a striking piece so I'm happy to add it to my CWT merchant store card collection.

It's too bad the address is a parking lot now. It would have been great to see some recent photos and visit the location.

Given how large his company was ("In 1860 he claimed to have the largest wholesale and retail stock of watches in the country."), are there any ads for hiss company or other surviving materials like boxes, etc.? I did a quick search but didn't turn up anything.

"This one also comes with the longest provenance chain I've seen for a Civil War Token so far:"

Michael Parkoff
Q. David Bowers
Walter Korzic
Paul Koppenhaver
Sol Kaplan
Virgil Michael Brand

Just a heads up knowing your fondness for provenance and attention to detail -- late friend Walt Korzick spelled his name with a K on the end. Walt put out a long series of fixed price lists (some look mimeographed!) seemingly all done on the same ancient typewriter. He handled a number of rarities and good sized collections but always had hundreds of entry level CWTs on each price list aimed at the beginning CWT collector. He could seem a bit gruff on first encounter but that quickly gave way to reveal a well rounded guy (former teacher) with a great knowledge of and memory for CWTs of all sorts. He was one of the good guys in the budding exonumia field of the late 20th Century.

If all Civil War Tokens carried their provenance with them, Brand to Kaplan to Koppenhaver would occur more often in the CWT field than Tinker to Evers to Chance ever occurred on the baseball field. and Brand to Kaplan to Koppenhaver to Korzick would rank high on the "three assist" chart as well.

Zoins · October 12, 2020 7:48AM

Fixed the spelling. Thanks @tokenpro!

Is it pretty easy to identify which tokens went from Brand to Kaplan, Koppenhaver and Korzick? It would be great to have their names with more tokens.

For many a slightly more modern trio, Rossa to Tanenbaum to QDB seems to be very popular. Putting these provenance chains together, is it easy to identify which ones went from Koppenhaver or Korzick to Rossa?

NEWP: H. Mulligan Watches Storecard

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