(1835-44) Copper Token HT-165, William H. Milton & Co. MA

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 XF40BN 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This copper token continues the Wm. H. Milton & Co. series from Boston, representing another die variety in the firm's extensive token production program. Like other Milton issues, it combines a Liberty Head obverse with the firm's business identification on the reverse, maintaining the cent-like format that ensured ready acceptance in daily commerce. The multiple die varieties attributed to Milton (HT-163 through HT-166A) span multiple years and compositions, creating a collecting subset within the broader Hard Times Token series. Die variety specialists can trace the evolution of the Milton dies through subtle changes in letter punches, decorative elements, and die state progression from early sharp strikes through increasingly worn late-state specimens. Boston's commercial environment in the 1830s-1840s provided fertile ground for merchant token circulation. The city's busy retail markets, waterfront commerce, and dense population ensured that tokens passed through many hands quickly, providing repeated advertising impressions for the issuing merchant. Milton's investment in multiple die varieties indicates the tokens were an integral part of the firm's marketing strategy rather than a one-time promotional effort.

Rarity Notes

Common. Standard copper variety. Rarity R-1 to R-2.

Cross References

Rulau HT-165