(1860) Copper Token PA-217, Idler Copy

Coin Details

Description

Copper token designated as an 'Idler Copy,' produced in Pennsylvania circa 1860. The term 'Idler' in numismatic usage refers to William Idler, a noted Philadelphia die sinker, coin dealer, and restriker active from the 1850s through the 1870s. Idler was known for producing copies, restrikes, and fantasies of scarce American tokens and colonial coins for the collector market. His workshop on North Eighth Street in Philadelphia was a center of numismatic activity. This piece is one of Idler's acknowledged copies, produced openly for collectors rather than as a deceptive forgery. Copper, 28mm. Tokens from the antebellum period circulated in an economy where small change shortages were a recurring problem, making merchant-issued pieces both advertisements and practical currency substitutes. Pennsylvania merchant tokens reflect the Commonwealth's diverse economy, from Philadelphia's urban commerce to the industrial towns of the interior.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. William Idler's copies and restrikes have become collectible in their own right as examples of mid-19th century American numismatic craftsmanship. Idler's work is documented extensively in the Rulau catalog and in studies of Philadelphia die sinkers. Collected by specialists in American numismatic history and restrike studies.

Cross References

; PCGS #532565