(1835) Copper Token HT-359, Carpenter & Mosher NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$7,800 VF35BN 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1835 copper token from Carpenter & Mosher of Troy, New York advertises a mercantile firm that operated in one of the upper Hudson Valley's most important commercial centers. Troy in the 1830s was experiencing rapid growth driven by its strategic position at the junction of the Hudson River and Erie Canal, with a diverse manufacturing base that included iron foundries, textile mills, and the detachable collar industry that would make Troy internationally famous. Carpenter & Mosher's token joins the Bucklin, Starbuck, Peck, and other Troy issues that collectively document the city's commercial landscape during the Hard Times period. Troy merchants were well-positioned to issue advertising tokens — the city's manufacturing capability provided access to metalworking services, and its bustling retail economy ensured that tokens would circulate actively through the commercial community. The token's standard copper format and cent-like dimensions placed it in the mainstream of Hard Times Token production. Carpenter & Mosher's piece would have circulated alongside tokens from other Troy merchants, federal large cents, and the various political tokens that commented on the economic policies blamed for the Hard Times.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Rulau HT-359