(1867) Silver Token Rulau NY-NY 255, F. Prentice

Coin Details

Auction Record

$288 AU53 03-25-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Silver mining promotion token issued by F. Prentice Mining of 26 Pine Street, New York City, 1867. The obverse depicts a mining village with the legend F. PRENTICE MINING 26 PINE ST. NEW YORK. The reverse reads FIRST PRODUCT / BY / MILL PROCESS / IN THE / PAH-RANAGAT / MINING DISTRICT / NEVADA / JANY. 1867. This token commemorates the first silver extracted by mill process from the Pah-Ranagat mining district in Lincoln County, Nevada, and was struck from the actual silver produced. F. Prentice promoted Nevada silver mining interests from his New York office, and this token served as tangible proof of the mine's productivity for potential investors. Also cataloged as Miller NY-644. Silver, 32mm, plain edge. The decades following the Civil War witnessed both economic expansion and the emergence of organized coin collecting, as specialized dealers and auction houses established the numismatic marketplace. Authentication relies on die characteristics, metal composition analysis, and comparison with known genuine specimens.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Post-Civil War silver merchant token from New York City. Silver strikings from this period are uncommon, making this a premium piece for New York exonumia collectors. The identity of F. Prentice remains a subject for future research.

Cross References

Rulau NY-NY 255; PCGS #810972