(1854-57) Token Miller Pa-197A Copper Saml. Hart & Co.

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 MS64BN 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Samuel Hart & Co. was a Philadelphia playing card manufacturer active from the 1840s through the 1870s. The firm was one of the earliest American playing card makers, producing cards that competed with imported European decks. Hart's copper token (Miller Pa-197A) advertised his card-making business, which later merged with the New York Consolidated Card Company, a predecessor of the United States Playing Card Company. 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 Pa-197A 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 Pa-197A.

Cross References

Miller Pa-197A