1853 Token Miller NY-949A H.B. West's Trained Dogs New York

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 MS66 06-09-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Henry B. West (1832-1888) was an Ohio-based itinerant peddler with a physical disability who became locally famous for traveling with a dog-drawn cart pulled by his trained dogs Tray and Troy. West sold small goods from his cart across Ohio and neighboring states, becoming a well-known character in the communities he visited. His tokens (Miller NY-949 and NY-949A) feature a dog motif reflecting his distinctive mode of transportation. The obverse shares a die with the Crystal Palace token, suggesting production during or around the time of the 1853 Crystal Palace Exhibition in New York City. West is an example of the colorful itinerant merchants who were fixtures of mid-nineteenth-century American commercial life. This silvered piece was treated with a thin silver coating over the base metal, providing an attractive finish that elevated it above standard copper or brass tokens. The silvering process added cost and restricted production quantities. H.B. West (Henry B. West) issued 2 known token varieties. Cataloged as Miller NY-949A.

Rarity Notes

White metal and silvered strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to softer alloy composition. H.B. West (Henry B. West) issued 2 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-949A