1846 Token Miller SC-9 Brass W.W. Wilbur

Coin Details

Auction Record

$408 AU53 04-15-2021 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. The brass alloy provided this token with a golden luster that differentiated it from common copper cents. Brass tokens were perceived as slightly more valuable than copper issues, making them more likely to be retained by recipients. With 4 known token varieties, W.W. Wilbur was an active issuer of merchant tokens. Cataloged as Miller SC-9. The craftsmanship of merchant store card dies reflects the skill of 19th century American die sinkers, who produced detailed designs using hand-cut steel dies. Authentication of merchant store cards relies on die characteristics, metal analysis, and provenance, as counterfeits of the rarest varieties exist.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens. W.W. Wilbur issued 4 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller SC-9