(1875) Brass Token GW-658, J. Henry Gercke

Coin Details

Auction Record

$312 MS66 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This brass token cataloged as GW-658 was issued circa 1875 by J. Henry Gercke, a merchant or numismatic dealer who produced a Washington-themed centennial token for advertising or commemorative purposes. Gercke's token joins the enormous flood of privately produced centennial-era Washington pieces that capitalized on the national celebration of 1876. The brass composition and Washington portrait follow the standard formula for commercial tokens of this period, combining patriotic imagery with business promotion. The J. Henry Gercke attribution places this within a specific commercial context, documenting a real business that used the centennial and Washington's image to advertise its services. Merchant tokens from the centennial era are collected within multiple specialties — Washingtoniana, centennial memorabilia, and trade token collecting — giving them broad appeal. The GW-658 catalog number distinguishes this from the broader GW-657 centennial advertising series, indicating a distinct die combination or design.

Rarity Notes

GW-658, brass. J. Henry Gercke centennial advertising token. Limited production for single merchant. Scarce.

Cross References

PCGS #785180; GW-658; J. Henry Gercke, brass