(1837-44) Token HT-395, Philadelphia PA

Coin Details

Description

This Philadelphia token from the 1837–44 period is part of a sequential group (HT-386 through HT-396) cataloged in the Rulau reference. The series follows Isaac Barton & Co. (HT-385/385A) in the catalog numbering and encompasses multiple Philadelphia merchant pieces from the peak Hard Times years through the early recovery period. Philadelphia's commercial landscape during 1837–44 included hundreds of small merchants, craftsmen, and tradespeople who used tokens and counterstamps as both advertising and emergency currency. The concentration of Philadelphia pieces in this catalog range reflects the city's position as America's second-largest commercial center and a major hub for wholesale and retail trade in hardware, dry goods, and imported merchandise. The HT-395 designation places this piece within the largest single-city grouping in the Philadelphia section of the Hard Times token catalog. Each entry represents a distinct die combination, host coin, or metallic composition that collectors can identify and differentiate, contributing to the comprehensive documentation of Philadelphia's commercial activity during the nation's first great economic depression.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Philadelphia merchant token from the 1837-44 Hard Times period.

Cross References

Rulau HT-395