(1853-58) Token Miller La-10 Copper N.C. Folger

Coin Details

Description

N.C. Folger was a New Orleans merchant who issued multiple token varieties (Miller LA-10 through LA-15) in copper, brass, and gilt brass over a period of several years. New Orleans was the largest city in the antebellum South and a major port handling cotton, sugar, and goods from the Mississippi River trade. Folger's sustained token production indicates an established business with a commitment to token advertising. The copper composition provided excellent durability for everyday handling. Merchant tokens in copper circulated freely alongside federal cents, and the familiar reddish-brown metal ensured ready acceptance in local commerce. Cataloged as Miller La-10 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. Merchant store cards from this period served dual purposes: as advertising for the issuing business and as practical small change during periods when federal coinage was scarce or inconvenient. The numismatic market for merchant store cards has grown steadily, with rare varieties commanding significant premiums at major auctions.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Miller La-10