1860 Token Miller Pa-354, R. Lovett Jr.

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 MS61 11-01-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

Robert Lovett Jr. (1826-1899) was a Philadelphia die sinker and engraver, member of the celebrated Lovett family of American engravers. He is most famous for designing the Confederate cent in 1861, a pattern piece commissioned by the Confederacy that Lovett hid for years after the war fearing prosecution. His tokens (Miller Pa-344M, Pa-344N, Pa-354) demonstrate the technical skill that made the Lovett family the preeminent American die-sinking dynasty of the nineteenth century. Brass was a favored alternative to copper for merchant tokens, offering a warm golden tone that attracted attention. This brass striking would have stood out immediately in a handful of copper cents. With 4 known token varieties, Robert Lovett Jr. was an active issuer of merchant tokens. Cataloged as Miller Pa-354. American merchant tokens represent an important chapter in the economic history of the United States, documenting the businesses, products, and commercial practices of the 19th century.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens. Robert Lovett Jr. issued 4 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller Pa-354