(1836) Token HT-318A, 1-A Copper Squire-Merritt NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 AU50 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This copper Squire & Merritt token from 1836 advertises the ship chandlery and rope-making firm located at 175 South Street in New York City. The obverse features a beehive surrounded by implements of industry, while the reverse carries the firm's name and location. South Street, running along the East River waterfront, was the center of New York's maritime commerce in the 1830s — a district lined with counting houses, ship chandlers, sailmakers, and riggers who supplied the vessels that made New York America's busiest port. Squire & Merritt were ship chandlers and rope makers, supplying cordage, rigging hardware, and nautical provisions to the sailing vessels that crowded the East River wharves. The ship chandlery trade required substantial inventory — ropes, blocks, tackle, canvas, tar, paint, and hundreds of other items essential to keeping wooden sailing ships seaworthy. Their location at 175 South Street placed them steps from the docks where ship captains and their agents purchased supplies. The large number of token varieties attributed to Squire & Merritt (HT-318A through HT-325) indicates substantial commercial activity, consistent with a firm serving the busy South Street seaport district. Eight distinct die combinations imply aggregate production in the tens of thousands, reflecting both the advertising value of tokens and the constant need for small change in a cash-intensive waterfront business.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Die variety 1-A copper. Rarity R-3.

Cross References

Rulau HT-318A