(1843) Token HT-379B, Cleveland Double Struck OH

Coin Details

Description

This 1843 double-struck A. Loomis token from Cleveland, Ohio is a striking error in which the token received two impressions from the dies, creating a doubled or overlapping design. Double strikes occur when the token fails to fully eject between strikes or when the press operator inadvertently strikes the same planchet twice, with slight movement between the two impressions creating a distinctive doubled appearance. Double-struck tokens provide valuable evidence about the production methods used by the Loomis token manufacturer. The error indicates manual press operation without consistent ejection mechanisms, and the degree of design overlap reveals how much the planchet shifted between strikes. Such errors are relatively uncommon in the Hard Times Token series and are prized by collectors as production artifacts. The Loomis grocery at 34 Merwin Street in Cleveland continued to issue tokens through the early 1840s, creating one of Ohio's most extensive merchant token series. The double-struck error adds a mint-error collecting dimension to a series that is already notable for its geographic and commercial significance.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Rulau HT-379B