(1830s) Token HT-210A, Albany NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 XF45 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This token from Albany, New York dates to the 1830s and documents commercial activity in the state capital and a major hub of the Erie Canal system. Albany's position at the eastern terminus of the canal—where goods transferred between canal boats and Hudson River steamboats—made it one of the most important commercial cities in the northeastern United States. Albany's merchants served multiple markets: the agricultural hinterland of the upper Hudson Valley, the canal trade connecting the Great Lakes to the Atlantic seaboard, and the political community centered on the state capital. The city's diverse economy supported token production as merchants sought to advertise their businesses and provide small change during the Hard Times coin shortage. The Albany attribution adds geographic depth to a Hard Times collection dominated by New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston pieces. While Albany was smaller than these metropolitan centers, its commercial importance as a canal and river port made it a significant node in the early American transportation and trading network.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Albany, New York merchant token from the 1830s.

Cross References

Rulau HT-210A