(1852) Token Miller-NY-663 Brass Risley & McCollum's Hippodrome NY

Coin Details

Description

Risley & McCollum's Hippodrome was one of New York's grand entertainment venues in the 1850s. Professor Risley (Richard Risley Carlisle) was an internationally famous acrobat and showman who had performed before Queen Victoria and toured extensively in Asia. The Hippodrome featured equestrian acts, acrobatic performances, and spectacles in the tradition of ancient Roman entertainment. The brass token (Miller NY-663) served as an admission check or advertising piece for the venue. The brass composition gave this token an attractive golden hue that distinguished it from copper coinage. Brass planchets were slightly more expensive than copper but produced a more visually striking advertising piece. Cataloged as Miller NY-663. The Miller reference catalog, compiled by Donald M. Miller, remains the standard numismatic reference for American merchant store cards and provides the definitive numbering system used by collectors and auction houses.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens.

Cross References

Miller NY-663