(1860) Copper Token GW-234, Woodgate & Co.

Coin Details

Description

This copper token cataloged as GW-234 was issued circa 1860 by Woodgate & Co., a commercial firm that used George Washington's portrait on their trade token. Trade tokens bearing Washington's likeness were common throughout the nineteenth century, as merchants recognized that the first president's image lent an air of patriotic respectability to their advertising. Woodgate & Co. operated in the New York or Philadelphia area, where the concentration of numismatic activity made Washington-themed tokens particularly effective marketing tools. The copper composition was standard for trade tokens of this era, providing durability for everyday handling while keeping production costs low. The GW-234 catalog number in the Rulau-Fuld reference identifies this within the broader universe of Washington commercial tokens, which ranged from straightforward advertising pieces to elaborately designed medals that doubled as business promotions. These tokens provide valuable documentation of mid-nineteenth century commercial life alongside their numismatic significance.

Rarity Notes

GW-234, copper. Woodgate & Co. trade token. Moderate scarcity typical of Civil War era commercial tokens.

Cross References

PCGS #826353; GW-234; Woodgate & Co. token, copper