1789' Token Mott - White Metal

Coin Details

Description

Struck in white metal rather than the typical copper composition, this variant of the Mott Token represents one of the more unusual strikings in the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues series. The Mott firm — William and John Mott, silversmiths and jewelers operating at 240 Water Street in New York City — issued these tokens bearing the date 1789, though numismatic researchers have debated whether the actual production date was closer to 1793-94. The white metal composition, a tin-based alloy, gives this piece a distinctive silvery appearance and lighter feel compared to the standard copper issues. Measuring 28 mm in diameter with a plain edge, this token features an eagle on the obverse and a clock face on the reverse, motifs reflecting the Motts' trade as dealers in clocks and silverware. Cataloged as PCGS #608 and cross-referenced as Whitman 8240, the white metal striking is considered rare, with far fewer surviving examples than the copper versions. White metal strikings of early American tokens are prized by specialists because they often represent presentation pieces, trial strikes, or limited-production variants intended for a different purpose than everyday commercial circulation. The Mott Token series occupies an important position in early American numismatics as one of the earliest merchant tokens issued in the newly independent United States, predating the establishment of regular federal coinage and documenting the commercial economy of post-Revolutionary New York.

Rarity Notes

Rare. White metal composition.

Cross References

Whitman 8240