(1860) Token Miller NY-474A Copper Loder & Co.

Coin Details

Description

Loder & Co. were New York City merchants whose copper tokens (Miller NY-474A and NY-475) were issued in the years leading up to the Civil War. The firm's tokens are part of the extensive series of New York merchant advertising pieces that document the city's commercial landscape on the eve of the conflict. Multiple die varieties suggest active token distribution as an advertising strategy. This copper piece follows the convention of most merchant store cards, which used copper planchets to approximate the look and feel of federal coinage. The material choice minimized production costs while maximizing public acceptance. Cataloged as Miller NY-474A in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. Collecting merchant store cards has been an active pursuit since the Civil War era, with systematic cataloging beginning with Lyman Low's work in the 1890s and continuing through Miller's comprehensive reference. Tokens of this type are collected both as numismatic objects and as historical documents of 19th century American business.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller NY-474A. Loder & Co. issued 2 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-474A