(c.1850) Token Miller NY-1028 Gilt Bronze A.C. Yates

Coin Details

Description

A.C. Yates operated a "Clothing Emporium" at 13-15 North Salina Street in Syracuse, New York, known by the distinctive sign "Old Man with Specs." Despite the Miller NY catalog prefix, Yates was a Syracuse merchant, not a New York City business. The firm sold ready-made clothing during the era when factory-produced garments were transforming the American clothing industry. Yates's tokens (Miller NY-1028 and NY-1029) advertised his retail establishment, which served the growing population of central New York during a period of rapid canal and railroad expansion. Bronze tokens provided a durable, attractive medium for merchant advertising. The alloy's resistance to corrosion and wear ensured the merchant's name and message remained legible through extended circulation. Cataloged as Miller NY-1028 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. Authentication of merchant store cards relies on die characteristics, metal analysis, and provenance, as counterfeits of the rarest varieties exist.

Rarity Notes

Bronze striking. Durable alloy that preserved design details through circulation. Miller NY-1028. Yates issued 2 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-1028