(1835-42) Token HT-115, N. Orleans, Daquin Brothers LA

Coin Details

Description

This 1835-1842 copper token advertises Daquin Bros. of New Orleans, Louisiana — a merchant firm operated by the Daquin family in the Crescent City's French Quarter commercial district. New Orleans in the 1830s was America's second-largest port after New York, and its unique Creole culture produced a commercial environment distinct from any other American city. The Daquin family name indicates French Creole origins, connecting the firm to New Orleans' founding French colonial community. New Orleans merchants operated in a bilingual, multicultural commercial environment where French, English, and Spanish business practices intermixed. The Daquin brothers' token — produced in the English-language format standard for Hard Times issues — represents the firm's engagement with American commercial culture alongside its Creole roots. Louisiana tokens are relatively uncommon in the Hard Times series, making the Daquin pieces notable representatives of the southern token-issuing tradition. The extended date range (1835-1842) indicates sustained commercial activity through both the Panic of 1837 and the subsequent recovery. New Orleans' diverse economy — based on cotton trading, sugar processing, river commerce, and international shipping — provided some resilience against the worst effects of the economic downturn.

Rarity Notes

Common. Standard copper variety from New Orleans. Rarity R-2.

Cross References

Rulau HT-115