(c.1850's) Token Miller Ma-49 Brass Mahony's

Coin Details

Description

Mahony's Wholesale Clothes Warehouse was located at 50 Ann Street in Boston, Massachusetts. The firm were manufacturers of clothing and dealers in cloths, serving the wholesale trade that connected New England textile mills with retailers across the country. Their brass token (Miller Mass-49) advertised the wholesale business. Boston was a major center for the clothing trade, with its proximity to the textile mills of Lowell, Lawrence, and Fall River giving wholesale merchants access to abundant supplies of domestically manufactured fabrics. The brass alloy provided this token with a golden luster that differentiated it from common copper cents. Brass tokens were perceived as slightly more valuable than copper issues, making them more likely to be retained by recipients. Mahony's Wholesale Clothes Warehouse issued 2 known token varieties. Cataloged as Miller Ma-49. The numismatic market for merchant store cards has grown steadily, with rare varieties commanding significant premiums at major auctions.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens. Mahony's Wholesale Clothes Warehouse issued 2 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller Ma-49