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

Coin Details

Auction Record

$528 AU58 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

Copper variety of the Horace Porter & Co. merchant token from Massachusetts, circa 1826-1833. This copper striking distinguished from the brass Mass-84 variety represents either a different production run or a deliberate choice of material. Copper merchant tokens often circulated more readily than brass ones because their color and weight more closely resembled contemporary large cents, giving them a familiar feel in commerce. Horace Porter & Co. was a New England firm whose token issuance predates the Hard Times era. Copper, 22mm. Pre-1835 American tokens are among the earliest commercial exonumia produced in the United States, predating the Hard Times token explosion of 1837-1844. Massachusetts tokens reflect New England's long commercial tradition, from colonial-era merchants to the industrialized economy of the 19th century. Higher-grade examples are uncommon, reflecting the heavy circulation these tokens experienced in everyday commercial transactions.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Copper die variety of the Horace Porter & Co. series, distinguished from the brass Mass-84 by metal composition. Both varieties share R-7 rarity. Early Massachusetts merchant tokens are scarcer than their New York counterparts. The existence of multiple metal varieties indicates the firm issued these tokens over a period of years using different copper and brass planchets.

Cross References

Rulau Mass-84A; PCGS #689980