(1859-61) Token Miller Calif-11 Brass Thurnauer & Zinn

Coin Details

Description

Partners William Thurnauer and Henry Zinn were importers of baskets, toys, and fancy goods at 820-822 Battery Street in San Francisco. Their brass token (Miller Calif-11) is one of the few California entries in the Miller catalog. The firm imported European-manufactured goods for the California market during the post-Gold Rush era, when San Francisco's population was booming and demand for consumer goods far exceeded local manufacturing capacity. Battery Street was the heart of San Francisco's wholesale district, close to the waterfront where imported goods arrived. 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 Calif-11. Collector interest in merchant store cards has grown as the tokens are increasingly recognized as primary historical documents of 19th century commerce.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Miller Calif-11