(c.1851) Token Miller Ohio-10 Silvered Brass Dodd & Co., Hatters

Coin Details

Description

Dodd & Co. were hatters at 144 Main Street in Cincinnati, Ohio. The firm was the first Cincinnati hatter to manufacture fine hats that competed with eastern cities, breaking the regional monopoly that New York and Philadelphia hat makers had maintained. Their tokens (Miller Ohio-8 through Ohio-10) in brass, copper, and silvered brass advertised this competitive achievement. Cincinnati was the largest city in Ohio and a major manufacturing center known as the "Queen of the West," making it a natural market for a high-quality hat manufacturer seeking to establish local production. The silvered surface treatment gave this token a premium, coin-like appearance, though the plating was susceptible to wear over time. Silvered tokens are scarcer than plain base metal issues, and examples retaining their original surface are particularly desirable. Dodd & Co., Hatters issued 3 known token varieties. Cataloged as Miller Ohio-10. Merchant store cards represent one of the most diverse collecting fields in American numismatics, spanning hundreds of merchants across dozens of states.

Rarity Notes

White metal and silvered strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to softer alloy composition. Dodd & Co., Hatters issued 3 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller Ohio-10