(c.1850's) Token Miller Tenn-11 Copper Francisco & Co.

Coin Details

Auction Record

$144 MS64+RB 06-21-2024 Stack's Bowers

Description

Francisco & Co. were hatters at 348 Main Street in Memphis, Tennessee, while the related firm Francisco & Whitman operated on the Public Square in Nashville. The dual-city presence suggests a successful partnership that expanded across Tennessee's two largest commercial centers. Their tokens (Miller Tenn-11, Tenn-53A, Tenn-55) advertised the hat-making business in a state that would be deeply divided during the Civil War. Memphis and Nashville supported active merchant communities engaged in regional trade connecting the upper and 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 Tenn-11 in the standard reference for American merchant tokens. The numismatic market for merchant store cards has grown steadily, with rare varieties commanding significant premiums at major auctions.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Miller Tenn-11. Francisco & Whitman issued 3 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller Tenn-11