(1835) Token HT-99, Montgomery, Stickney & Wilson Al

Coin Details

Description

This token from Stickney & Wilson of Montgomery, Alabama advertises one of the most comprehensive general merchandise operations documented on any Hard Times token. The reverse lists their inventory: "Dry Goods, Groceries, Hardware, Crockery, Clothing, Hats & Shoes"—essentially every category of merchandise a frontier consumer might need. The obverse features the firm name with decorative flowers. Montgomery was Alabama's state capital and a rapidly growing commercial center in the 1830s, serving as the primary supply point for plantations and farms in the central Alabama region. Stickney & Wilson operated as a classic frontier general store, maintaining stocks across multiple product categories that would be separated into specialized shops in larger cities. This comprehensive approach was practical in a developing region where customers might travel considerable distances and needed to accomplish all their shopping in a single visit. The token is one of only two Alabama pieces in the Hard Times series (alongside HT-98 from Mobile), making it particularly significant for collectors seeking geographic completeness. Alabama's economy in the 1830s was dominated by cotton agriculture, and merchants like Stickney & Wilson served as the commercial link between the plantation system and the manufactured goods produced in northern factories and European workshops.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Approximate market value $4,700. One of only two Alabama Hard Times tokens.

Cross References

Rulau HT-99