(1826-33) Brass Token Rulau Mass-84, Horace Porter & Co.

Coin Details

Description

Brass merchant token issued by Horace Porter & Co. of Massachusetts, circa 1826-1833. Horace Porter & Co. was a New England dry goods or general merchandise firm active during the early republic. Massachusetts merchant tokens from this period are considerably scarcer than their New York counterparts, as fewer New England merchants adopted the practice of issuing advertising tokens before the Hard Times era popularized it. The brass composition was standard for merchant advertising pieces of this period. Brass, 22mm. Boston and its surrounding towns were among the earliest centers of American token production, with die sinkers like Joseph H. Merriam and John Adams Bolen establishing the craft. Advertising tokens served as pocket-sized billboards in an era before mass media, keeping a merchant's name and address literally in the customer's pocket. The numismatic community has shown deepening interest in early American tokens, driven by appreciation for their dual significance as commercial artifacts and historical records.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Early Massachusetts merchant token from the pre-Hard Times era. New England merchant tokens from the 1820s-1830s are significantly scarcer than New York issues of the same period. Collected by specialists in early American commercial tokens and Massachusetts numismatica.

Cross References

Rulau Mass-84; PCGS #970863