(c.1850) Token Miller Pa-433 Brass M.A. Root

Coin Details

Description

Marcus Aurelius Root (1808-1888) was one of Philadelphia's most prominent daguerreotypists and a leading figure in early American photography. His brass token (Miller Pa-433) advertised his photographic studio. Root was the author of "The Camera and the Pencil" (1864), one of the first American books on photography, and trained many of the next generation of photographers. His studio produced portraits of numerous prominent Americans. 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. Cataloged as Miller Pa-433. 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. This token type is part of a broader tradition of private American coinage stretching from colonial times through the Civil War era.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Miller Pa-433