(c.1850) Token Miller SC-3 Copper Haviland Stevenson & Co.

Coin Details

Description

Haviland, Stevenson & Co. were wholesale druggists in Charleston, South Carolina, established around 1825. The firm was one of the most prominent drug wholesalers in the antebellum South, serving pharmacists and physicians throughout the region. Their copper token (Miller SC-3) features an eagle perched on a mortar and pestle, the traditional symbol of pharmacy. The token is one of the few merchant pieces from South Carolina, reflecting the state's smaller commercial token tradition compared to Northern cities. Charleston was the commercial capital of the Lower South. Struck in copper, this token matched the federal large cent in appearance and weight, making it immediately recognizable to the public. Copper remained the dominant planchet choice for merchant tokens throughout the antebellum and Civil War periods. Cataloged as Miller SC-3 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

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller SC-3. Stevenson & Co. issued 2 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller SC-3