(c.1850) Token Miller Mo-24 Nicholson's

Coin Details

Description

David Grace Nicholson (1814-1880) was a Scottish immigrant who became a grocer and liquor dealer on North 6th Street in St. Louis. Nicholson was the first merchant in St. Louis to import foreign comestibles (specialty food items), establishing a reputation for carrying European delicacies not available elsewhere in the city. His token (Miller Mo-24) advertised his specialty grocery business. St. Louis was the gateway to the American West, and Nicholson's shop served a cosmopolitan population that included French, German, and English-speaking residents. Struck in brass, this token presented a distinctive golden color that set it apart from the standard copper cent. Merchants who chose brass planchets benefited from the eye-catching appearance while keeping production costs low. Cataloged as Miller Mo-24. The dies for merchant tokens were typically cut by professional engravers, though some frontier examples show more primitive workmanship.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens.

Cross References

Miller Mo-24