1825 Token NY-654A Silvered Brass J. Rathbone & F.B. Fitch

Coin Details

Description

This 1825 silvered brass token, cataloged as NY-654A, was issued by J. Rathbone & F.B. Fitch, merchants operating in New York. Silvered brass tokens were produced by applying a thin layer of silver over a brass core, creating the appearance of a silver coin at much lower cost. The NY-654A catalog designation identifies this within the standard reference for New York merchant tokens. The 1820s were a period of rapid commercial growth in New York City as the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825 transformed the city into the nation's dominant commercial center, connecting the Atlantic seaboard to the Great Lakes and the interior of the continent. Merchant tokens from this pivotal era document the businesses that fueled New York's rise to commercial supremacy, serving as both advertising pieces and practical substitutes for small change.

Rarity Notes

Silvered brass, NY-654A. 1820s New York merchant token. Erie Canal era commercial piece.

Cross References

PCGS #545352; NY-654A; J. Rathbone & F.B. Fitch, Silvered Brass