(1834-7) Token HT-276, New York NY

Coin Details

Description

This 1834-1837 copper token is another variety in the Hallock & Bates merchant series from New York City. The extended date range indicates this die was used or the token was produced over a multi-year period, during which the firm maintained its commercial operations through the transition from pre-panic prosperity to the Hard Times economic crisis. Hallock & Bates' multiple token varieties (HT-252, HT-275, HT-276, and the later Hallock, Dolson & Bates issues HT-277) represent a comprehensive token advertising program for a single merchant partnership. The investment in multiple die pairs and compositions indicates both commercial success and a sustained commitment to token-based advertising that few New York merchants matched in scope. The token's standard copper composition and cent-like dimensions ensured ready acceptance in daily commerce. New York City's dense commercial economy provided ideal conditions for token circulation — thousands of daily retail transactions in shops, markets, and taverns meant that advertising tokens changed hands frequently, amplifying their promotional impact far beyond what a static advertisement could achieve.

Rarity Notes

Common. Standard copper variety. Rarity R-2.

Cross References

Rulau HT-276