(1837) Token HT-316, New York NY

Coin Details

Description

This Smith's Clock Establishment token variety lacks the standard identifying features that distinguish the major die varieties (HT-311 through HT-315), placing it among the scarcer emissions in the series. As with all Smith's Clock tokens, the design centers on the clock face reading 10:14 with "TIME IS MONEY" on the obverse and business identification on the reverse. The proliferation of minor varieties within the Smith's Clock series (HT-311 through HT-317A) indicates sustained production over a period of months, years, with multiple replacement dies being cut as earlier dies wore out or cracked. Each new die introduced subtle differences in lettering style, spacing, punctuation, and decorative elements that token collectors use to classify and distinguish individual varieties. Smith's Clock Establishment operated during a period when the Bowery was transitioning from a residential thoroughfare to a commercial and entertainment district. The concentration of retail shops, theaters, taverns, and hotels along the Bowery created a captive market for businesses like Smith's, which could attract both neighborhood residents needing clock repairs and visitors seeking souvenirs or impulse purchases.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. This variety is less frequently encountered than the major Smith's Clock issues. Rarity R-3.

Cross References

Rulau HT-316