1859 Token Miller NY-141 Copper Eleanor Rugg Byrne

Coin Details

Description

Eleanor Rugg Byrne operated a millinery and fancy goods establishment in New York City. Her tokens (Miller NY-141 through NY-143) are notable as one of the few merchant token issues attributed to a female business proprietor in the pre-Civil War era. Women-owned businesses in antebellum New York were concentrated in trades considered appropriate for female entrepreneurs, particularly millinery, dressmaking, and fancy goods retail. 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 NY-141 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. Merchant store cards represent one of the most diverse collecting fields in American numismatics, spanning hundreds of merchants across dozens of states.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller NY-141. Eleanor Rugg Byrne issued 3 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-141