(1860) Token Miller NY-475 Brass 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. Struck in brass, this token presented a distinctive golden color that set it apart from the standard copper cent. Merchants who chose brass planchets benefited from the eye-catching appearance while keeping production costs low. Loder & Co. issued 2 known token varieties. Cataloged as Miller NY-475. 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. Authentication of merchant store cards relies on die characteristics, metal analysis, and provenance, as counterfeits of the rarest varieties exist.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens. Loder & Co. issued 2 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-475