(1828-31) Brass Token Rulau-E-NY-137, David C. Buchan

Coin Details

Description

Brass merchant token issued by David C. Buchan of New York City, circa 1828-1831. Buchan operated a dry goods or haberdashery business in lower Manhattan during the late 1820s. The Rulau-E (early) designation marks this as a pre-Hard Times era piece from the first generation of New York commercial token production. Buchan's business was located in the rapidly developing commercial district south of Canal Street, where merchants competed for visibility among the growing population of shoppers and traders. Brass, 22mm. Tokens from this period reflect the decentralized commercial economy of the early republic, when individual merchants competed for recognition in rapidly growing American cities. 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. The market for pre-1900 American tokens has strengthened as collectors appreciate the historical narratives embedded in these merchant-issued pieces.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Early New York merchant token from the pre-Hard Times era. Buchan's tokens are less frequently encountered than those of better-known contemporaries. Collected by specialists in early New York City commercial tokens and pre-Jacksonian era American exonumia.

Cross References

Rulau-E-NY-137; PCGS #933601