(1837) Copper Token HT-192, A.C. Smith Haselton & Palmer NH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$216 AU55BN 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1837 copper token from A.C. Smith, Haselton & Palmer of New Hampshire documents a three-partner mercantile firm that operated during the Hard Times period. The tripartite firm name indicates a substantial commercial operation — three principals pooling resources to fund inventory, facilities, and working capital. New Hampshire merchants, while less numerous than their Massachusetts counterparts in the Hard Times Token series, produced several interesting varieties that document the state's commercial activity during the 1830s. New Hampshire's economy in the 1830s was transitioning from primarily agricultural to increasingly industrial, with textile mills along the Merrimack River transforming towns like Manchester and Nashua into manufacturing centers. Merchants like Smith, Haselton & Palmer served communities that were growing rapidly as workers migrated from farms to factory towns, creating new demand for retail goods and services. The token's copper composition and standard cent-like format placed it in the mainstream of Hard Times Token production. New Hampshire merchants generally relied on token manufacturers in Massachusetts or Connecticut to produce their tokens, as the state lacked the specialized metalworking infrastructure needed for die cutting and token striking.

Rarity Notes

Common. Standard copper variety. Rarity R-2.

Cross References

Rulau HT-192