(1860) Token Miller Pa-101 Copper Edward Cogan

Coin Details

Description

Edward Cogan (1803-1884) was one of the most important early American coin dealers, operating from Philadelphia beginning in the late 1850s. Born in England, Cogan emigrated to the United States and became a pioneering figure in the American numismatic trade. He conducted numerous auction sales of coins and medals and was a member of the American Numismatic Society. His extensive series of tokens (Miller Pa-90 through Pa-101) served as business cards for his numismatic dealership and are themselves collected as significant examples of the token art form. The copper composition provided excellent durability for everyday handling. Merchant tokens in copper circulated freely alongside federal cents, and the familiar reddish-brown metal ensured ready acceptance in local commerce. Cataloged as Miller Pa-101 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. This token type is part of a broader tradition of private American coinage stretching from colonial times through the Civil War era.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller Pa-101. Edward Cogan issued 7 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller Pa-101