(1859) Token Miller-Pa, 214, Baker-544G Copper William Idler Copy

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,080 MS65BN 04-13-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This copper token cataloged as Miller-Pa 214 and Baker-544G was produced circa 1859 by William Idler of Philadelphia as a copy or imitation of an earlier Washington piece. Idler was a well-known Philadelphia die sinker and numismatic entrepreneur who produced numerous tokens, store cards, and medal copies during the 1850s and 1860s. His copies of earlier Washington medals and colonial coins were produced openly for the collector market, not as deceptions, and are cataloged in their own right within the numismatic literature. The Miller state token reference (Pa 214) identifies this as a Pennsylvania-attributed piece, while the Baker-544G designation places it within W.S. Baker's comprehensive catalog of Washington medals. Idler's workshop on North Third Street in Philadelphia was a gathering place for collectors and dealers, and his products were widely distributed through the numismatic trade. The copper composition and modest size are typical of Idler's commercial token production, intended for affordable sale to the growing community of American coin collectors.

Rarity Notes

Miller-Pa 214, Baker-544G, copper. Idler copy of a Washington piece. Collected within both the Washington and Pennsylvania trade token series.

Cross References

PCGS #886418; Miller-Pa 214; Baker-544G; William Idler copy