(c.1850) Token Miller NY-380 Brass Jennings Wheeler & Co.

Coin Details

Description

Jennings Wheeler & Co. were dry goods merchants in New York City, part of the massive textile and clothing trade that dominated the city's commercial economy. Multiple token varieties (Miller NY-380 and NY-383) in brass and gilt bronze indicate active token distribution. The dry goods trade was the largest sector of American retail commerce in the antebellum period, and New York served as the national distribution center. Brass was a favored alternative to copper for merchant tokens, offering a warm golden tone that attracted attention. This brass striking would have stood out immediately in a handful of copper cents. Jennings Wheeler & Co. issued 3 known token varieties. Cataloged as Miller NY-380. Merchant store cards from this period served dual purposes: as advertising for the issuing business and as practical small change during periods when federal coinage was scarce or inconvenient. Collector interest in merchant store cards has grown as the tokens are increasingly recognized as primary historical documents of 19th century commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens. Jennings Wheeler & Co. issued 3 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-380