(1833) Copper Token HT-428, Ephraim A. Hathaway RI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 MS64BN 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1833 copper token from Ephraim A. Hathaway's City Coal Yard in Providence, Rhode Island features a charming domestic scene on the obverse: a fireplace burning brightly at center, surrounded by the text "CITY COAL YARD PROVIDENCE, R.I." The reverse reads "EPHRAIM A. HATHWAY ANTHRACITE & BITUMINOUS COAL 1833" with decorative floral elements — though notably the die sinker misspelled Hathaway's name as "HATHWAY," omitting the second "A." The fireplace design was an inspired choice for a coal dealer's token, instantly communicating the product's primary use to potential customers. In the 1830s, the transition from wood to coal as a primary heating fuel was transforming the domestic energy landscape of northeastern American cities. Anthracite coal from Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley and bituminous coal from various Appalachian sources were becoming available in urban markets through an expanding network of canals, railroads, and coastal shipping routes. Hathaway's token is one of the few merchant Hard Times Tokens from Rhode Island, reflecting the relatively smaller scale of token production outside the major manufacturing centers of New York and Connecticut. Providence's position as a commercial port and manufacturing center made it a natural market for coal and for the token currency that facilitated its purchase during periods of coin shortage.

Rarity Notes

Common. The Hathaway coal token is one of the more frequently encountered New England merchant tokens. Rarity R-1.

Cross References

Low 163; Rulau HT-428