1859 Token Miller NY-180 Copper John K. Curtis

Coin Details

Auction Record

$456 MS64RB 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

John K. Curtis was one of New York's earliest coin and token dealers, active in the late 1850s when numismatic collecting was emerging as a popular American hobby. His tokens (Miller NY-177 through NY-189) served as both advertisements for his business and as collectible pieces in their own right. Curtis was part of a small but growing community of New York numismatists who helped establish the foundations of organized coin collecting in America. Struck in copper, this token matched the federal large cent in appearance and weight, making it immediately recognizable to the public. Copper remained the dominant planchet choice for merchant tokens throughout the antebellum and Civil War periods. Cataloged as Miller NY-180 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. Pre-Civil War merchant tokens circulated during a period of chronic small change shortages, when copper tokens filled an essential gap in the American monetary system.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller NY-180. Curtis issued 3 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-180