(1823) Brass Token Rulau-E NY-957B, C. & I.D. Wolfe

Coin Details

Description

Brass merchant token issued by C. & I.D. Wolfe of New York City, circa 1823. Not to be confused with the better-known C. Wolfe, Spies & Clark firm (Rulau NY-960), which produced its own separate token series. The Wolfe family operated several related but distinct mercantile enterprises in lower Manhattan during the 1820s, and numismatists have occasionally conflated these different firms. NY-957B is a Rulau-E (early) designated piece, placing it in the pre-Hard Times era when merchant advertising tokens were first emerging as a recognizable category. Brass, 22mm. Early American tokens from before 1835 document the emergence of commercial advertising in the young republic, when printed media remained expensive and personal recommendations drove trade. New York City's position as the hub of American die-sinking meant that merchants from multiple states commissioned their tokens from Manhattan workshops staffed by master engravers.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Early New York merchant token from the pre-Hard Times era. Easily confused with the more common C. Wolfe, Spies & Clark issues, but C. & I.D. Wolfe was a separate firm. Fewer than ten examples have been traced. Collected by specialists in early New York City commercial tokens and pre-1832 American merchant pieces.

Cross References

Rulau-E NY-957B; PCGS #930409