(1837) Copper Token HT-295, James G. Moffet NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$288 MS63BN 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1837 copper token advertises the brass foundry of James G. Moffet at 121 Prince Street in New York City. The obverse features a shielded eagle at center with a banner reading "E PLURIBUS UNUM" above (notably with reversed letters — "PLURIBUƧ UИUM" — where the S and N appear backwards), "121 PRINCE ST." below, and "JAMES G. MOFFET BRASS FOUNDER NEW YORK" around the border. The reverse identifies his products: "BRASS SHEET & PLATERS BRASS COUNTER RAILINGS GOLD SILVER & GERMAN SILVER." James G. Moffet (1800-1887) operated his brass foundry and lighting fixture business at 121 Prince Street from 1832 to 1855. His products included solar and lard oil lamps, gas fixtures, counter railings for banks and offices, and decorative brass hardware. The breadth of his product line reflects the diverse applications of brass in mid-nineteenth-century architecture, interior design, and commercial fixtures. The reversed letters in "E PLURIBUS UNUM" are a fascinating feature of the Moffet dies. Whether the reversal was an intentional joke, an error by the die sinker who forgot that die lettering must be cut in mirror image, or a deliberate quirk intended to avoid too-close imitation of official government coinage remains debated by numismatists. The fact that different Moffet varieties show different degrees of letter reversal (HT-297 has additional misspellings) indicates ongoing die-cutting challenges rather than deliberate design choices.

Rarity Notes

Common. Moffet brass founder tokens are well-represented in the marketplace. Rarity R-1 to R-3 depending on variety.

Cross References

Low 99; Rulau HT-295