1846 Token Miller SC-10 Copper W.W. Wilbur

Coin Details

Auction Record

$240 VF30BN 06-23-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

W.W. Wilbur was a South Carolina merchant who issued an extensive series of tokens in 1846 (Miller SC-7A through SC-10) in copper and brass. Wilbur's multiple varieties make him one of the most prolific token issuers in the antebellum South, where merchant tokens were far less common than in the commercial centers of the Northeast. The tokens document commercial activity in South Carolina fifteen years before the Civil War. Copper was the workhorse metal of the American token industry, and this piece exemplifies the standard merchant store card format. The copper planchet accepted fine engraving detail and resisted corrosion, helping tokens survive decades of pocket carry. Cataloged as Miller SC-10 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. American merchant tokens represent an important chapter in the economic history of the United States, documenting the businesses, products, and commercial practices of the 19th century. Authentication of merchant store cards relies on die characteristics, metal analysis, and provenance, as counterfeits of the rarest varieties exist.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller SC-10. Wilbur issued 4 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller SC-10