(1828-48) Token HT-401, Philadelphia, Bolivar PA

Coin Details

Description

This Bolivar House counterstamp variant differs from HT-400 in the host coin used or the counterstamp die state. The Bolivar House on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia was named for the South American liberator Simón Bolívar and occupied a prominent position in the city's cultural and commercial district. The building's history encompasses multiple incarnations from political meeting hall to entertainment venue. The practice of counterstamping existing coins was common among Philadelphia merchants during the Hard Times era. Rather than commissioning entirely new tokens from a die-cutting firm, a merchant could purchase a simple punch bearing their name and address, then stamp it onto any available coin. This was considerably cheaper than ordering custom-struck tokens and allowed merchants to create advertising pieces on demand as coins passed through their businesses. The Bolivar House counterstamp series includes multiple varieties struck on different host coins including Mexican 2 Reales, U.S. large cents, and other circulating denominations. Each host coin creates a distinct collectible variety, and the series as a whole documents the range of coins circulating in Philadelphia commerce during the 1830s and 1840s.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Bolivar House counterstamp variant. Value depends on host coin condition and type.

Cross References

Rulau HT-401