(1831-7) Token HT-260, New York NY

Coin Details

Description

This 1831-1837 copper token from Edwin Parmele of New York City advertises a merchant who operated during the extended Hard Times Token era. Parmele issued tokens in both brass (HT-302) and copper varieties, with the HT-302 brass issue bearing a date-range that extends through 1839, indicating a sustained commercial presence through the economic crisis. The "Edwin" attribution connects these tokens to a specific individual rather than a partnership, though Parmele operated under various firm configurations during his career. Parmele's token program is notable for spanning multiple compositions and die varieties, indicating a merchant with sufficient resources and commercial ambition to maintain an ongoing advertising campaign. The brass variety (HT-302) and copper varieties (HT-260, HT-261) would have been visually distinguishable in circulation, with the golden brass tokens standing out among the predominantly copper tokens and large cents of daily commerce. New York merchants who maintained token production from the early 1830s through the late 1830s bridged the transition from pre-panic advertising novelties to genuine emergency currency substitutes. Parmele's extended production history places him among the more persistent token advertisers in the Hard Times series.

Rarity Notes

Common. Standard copper variety. Rarity R-2.

Cross References

Rulau HT-260