(1837) Copper Token HT-244, H. Crossman NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$312 MS64BN 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1837 copper H. Crossman token features an eagle facing left on the obverse with an umbrella on the reverse, distinguishing it from HT-243 which pairs the Liberty bust with the same umbrella device. The different obverse die creates a distinct die combination for this second Crossman variety, while the umbrella reverse maintains the unmistakable product identification. The eagle obverse used on HT-244 is a stock die that appears on multiple merchant tokens from this period — die sinkers maintained libraries of generic patriotic and allegorical obverse dies that could be paired with merchant-specific reverse dies to produce tokens efficiently. This "mix and match" approach reduced production costs, as the die sinker only needed to cut one custom die (the reverse) per merchant rather than two. Crossman's umbrella manufactory at 92½ Chatham Street occupied one of the busiest retail corridors in antebellum New York. Chatham Street's concentration of small shops, open-air vendors, and secondhand dealers created a vibrant commercial atmosphere where tokens circulated freely as cent substitutes. The street's proximity to City Hall and the major newspaper offices ensured heavy foot traffic from all social classes, maximizing the advertising reach of Crossman's tokens.

Rarity Notes

Common. Eagle obverse die variety. Rarity R-2.

Cross References

Rulau HT-244