(1835-42) Token HT-116, N. Orleans, Daquin Brothers LA

Coin Details

Description

This 1835-1842 copper Daquin Bros. token is a third die variety in the New Orleans merchant series. The three-variety program places the Daquin firm among the more active Louisiana token issuers, with a production scope comparable to mid-range merchants in New York and New England. The sustained production over a seven-year period documents the firm's commercial persistence through the Hard Times economic crisis. New Orleans' role as the gateway to the Mississippi River trade system gave its merchants access to markets throughout the American interior. Cotton, sugar, and manufactured goods moved through New Orleans' port and warehouses, creating commercial opportunities for merchants who could navigate the city's complex business culture — a blend of American enterprise, French Creole tradition, and the multi-ethnic influences of a major international port. The three Daquin Bros. die varieties (HT-115, HT-115A, HT-116) create a modest but interesting collecting subset within the Louisiana Hard Times Token group. Louisiana tokens are less common than their northern counterparts, reflecting both smaller production volumes and the different commercial culture of the antebellum South.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Rulau HT-116