1901 Token NY-L-TM 22 Brass H.A. Meldrum Co. NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$95 MS66 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1901 brass token cataloged as NY-L-TM 22 advertises H.A. Meldrum Company, a prominent department store in Buffalo, New York. The token was almost certainly produced in connection with the 1901 Pan-American Exposition, which brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to Buffalo and created enormous demand for advertising tokens and souvenir pieces. Merchant tokens served dual purposes: they functioned as advertising for the issuing business while also serving as souvenirs of a visit to the city. H.A. Meldrum Company was one of Buffalo's leading retail establishments in the early twentieth century, and this token documents the intersection of local commerce and the international exposition. The brass composition gave this piece durability and a gold-like appearance attractive to recipients.

Rarity Notes

Brass merchant advertising token from 1901 Pan-American Exposition era. NY-L-TM 22. Scarce local merchant issue.

Cross References

PCGS #838778; NY-L-TM 22; H.A. Meldrum Co., Buffalo NY