(1867) Brass Token 10C Rulau MV-601A, Eureka

Coin Details

Description

Brass ten-cent trade token bearing the Eureka motif, produced circa 1867. The word EUREKA (Greek for 'I have found it') was widely used in American commerce during the post-Civil War era, associated with gold rush imagery and the spirit of discovery. This trade token functioned as a fractional currency substitute during the period when small change remained scarce following wartime hoarding. The 10-cent denomination made it useful for everyday retail transactions. The MV prefix in Rulau's catalog denotes a miscellaneous variety attribution. Brass, 19mm. Late 19th century tokens document American commercial life during the Gilded Age, when rapid industrialization transformed the retail landscape. Listed in the Rulau catalog, the standard reference work for pre-1900 American merchant tokens that has been continuously updated since its first edition. Tokens in superior condition are infrequently encountered, as the vast majority saw years of active use in daily commercial exchanges.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Post-Civil War era fractional trade token with the popular Eureka motif. Trade tokens bearing specific cent denominations from the Reconstruction era are collected as evidence of the continuing small-change shortage that plagued American commerce after the Civil War.

Cross References

Rulau MV-601A; PCGS #608024