(1840s) Token HT-381A, Cleveland Double Struck OH

Coin Details

Description

This double-struck A. Loomis token from the 1840s is another striking error variety in the Cleveland, Ohio grocer's extensive token series. Like HT-379B, this piece received two impressions from the dies with the planchet shifting slightly between strikes, producing a doubled design. The existence of multiple double-struck specimens in the Loomis series indicates that production quality control was inconsistent, with error pieces entering circulation alongside properly struck tokens. Abner Loomis's wholesale and retail grocery at 34 Merwin Street was situated in Cleveland's busiest commercial quarter. The store's proximity to the lakefront and canal terminus gave Loomis convenient access to incoming shipments of provisions, while his retail location served the daily needs of Cleveland's residential neighborhoods. The business model of combining wholesale distribution with retail sales maximized Loomis's revenue from the same inventory. Error varieties in merchant token series provide collecting depth beyond the standard die variety classification. Collectors pursuing a complete Loomis set must locate not only all die varieties and compositions but also the recognized error types that have been cataloged and assigned distinct numbers.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Double-struck error. Rarity R-5.

Cross References

Rulau HT-381A