(1832-35) Copper Token HT-307A, Robert B. Ruggles

Coin Details

Description

This copper token with reeded edge advertises Robert B. Ruggles, gold beater at 225 Canal Street, New York City. The obverse features an arm-and-hammer design symbolizing the manual craft of gold beating, while the reverse lists Ruggles' products: gold and silver leaf, gold and silver bronze, dentist's gold, and tin foil, available wholesale and retail. Gold beating was a specialized craft that involved hammering gold ingots into sheets of extraordinary thinness—sometimes less than one ten-thousandth of an inch thick. The resulting gold leaf was essential for gilding picture frames, signs, architectural ornament, book edges, and decorative objects. Ruggles' Canal Street location placed him in a major commercial corridor where sign painters, frame makers, and decorative craftsmen could easily access his products. The inclusion of "Dentist's Gold and Tin Foil" in the product listing reflects the early development of dental restoration in America. Gold foil was used to fill cavities, and tin foil served as a base material in dental work. Ruggles' diverse product line—spanning fine art, signage, architecture, and dentistry—demonstrates the wide range of applications for beaten gold in the 1830s economy.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Copper, reeded edge. Gold beater at 225 Canal Street. Low-270.

Cross References

Rulau HT-307A, Low-270