(1830-36) Brass Token Rulau-E Md-8, Baltimore

Coin Details

Description

Brass merchant or advertising token from Baltimore, Maryland, circa 1830-1836. Baltimore was one of America's largest and most commercially active cities during the early republic, rivaling New York, Philadelphia, and Boston as a center of trade. The Rulau-E (early) designation marks this as a pre-Hard Times era piece. Baltimore merchant tokens from this period are considerably scarcer than their New York equivalents, as fewer Maryland merchants adopted the practice of token issuance before the Hard Times era. The token documents the commercial culture of antebellum Baltimore. Brass, 22mm. Tokens from the early republic era predate the organized Hard Times token movement and represent the first generation of American merchant advertising pieces. Tokens of this type circulated in an American economy where small change was chronically scarce. Before Congress authorized adequate supplies of small-denomination coinage, private tokens filled an essential role in everyday transactions.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Pre-Hard Times era Baltimore merchant token. Maryland exonumia from the 1830s is significantly scarcer than New York issues. Collected by specialists in Baltimore commercial history and early American merchant tokens.

Cross References

Rulau-E Md-8; PCGS #930407