(1837) Token HT-440A, Norfolk VA

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 XF40 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This variant of the S.N. Botsford token from Norfolk, Virginia features the memorable motto "Time Is Money" designed to resemble a clock face—a clever visual advertisement for a watchmaker's business. The reverse identifies "S.N. Botsford Clock & Watch Maker Main St. Norfolk VA. Clocks For Sale." The primary HT-440 establishes the design; this variant differs in die state or metallic composition. The "Time Is Money" maxim, attributed to Benjamin Franklin from his 1748 "Advice to a Young Tradesman," was the perfect motto for a watchmaker's advertising token. The clock face design transformed the token from a simple text advertisement into a visual pun—a miniature clock proclaiming the value of time while advertising the means to track it. This creative design approach distinguishes the Botsford token from the straightforward text-only format of most Hard Times merchant pieces. Norfolk, Virginia's primary port city, served as a naval station, commercial harbor, and the gateway to the Chesapeake Bay's maritime commerce. Botsford's Main Street location placed his watch and clock shop at the center of Norfolk's commercial district, serving naval officers, ship captains, and the city's merchant class—customers for whom accurate timekeeping had both practical and professional importance.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Variant of the "Time Is Money" watchmaker token from Norfolk, Virginia.

Cross References

Rulau HT-440A