(1837) Token HT-382, Piqua Engraved Date OH

Coin Details

Description

This token from Piqua, Ohio features an engraved date of 1837, indicating the date was hand-cut into the die or the token's surface rather than being part of a standard die design. The "Engraved Date" designation distinguishes this piece from machine-struck tokens with dates incorporated into professionally-cut dies. Piqua, located on the Great Miami River in western Ohio, was a small but growing commercial town in the 1830s. The community served as a market center for the surrounding agricultural region, where farmers brought their grain, livestock, and produce for sale and purchased manufactured goods, tools, and supplies from local merchants. A token from Piqua documents Hard Times commercial activity on the Ohio frontier, far from the eastern token-manufacturing centers. The hand-engraved date indicates this token was produced locally rather than commissioned from a professional die-cutting firm in New York or Waterbury. Local production, while cruder in execution, reflected the self-sufficiency and resourcefulness of frontier communities that could not easily access the services available in coastal cities.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Hand-engraved date. Ohio frontier merchant token from Piqua.

Cross References

Rulau HT-382