(c.1860) Token Miller NY-399 Brass Professor Johnson

Coin Details

Description

Professor Johnson was a manufacturer and seller of cleaning products at 317 Bowery in New York City. His products included soap, starch polish, fountain blacking, and French blueing — household cleaning essentials in the mid-nineteenth century. The honorific "Professor" was commonly adopted by manufacturers and merchants to lend an air of scientific authority to their products. Johnson's multiple token varieties (Miller NY-399 through NY-401) in brass and copper advertised his cleaning products business during a period when the Bowery was a bustling commercial thoroughfare in lower Manhattan. This brass piece demonstrates the metal's popularity among token issuers seeking a premium appearance without the cost of precious metals. The golden brass alloy caught the eye and reinforced the merchant's brand. Professor Johnson issued 3 known token varieties. Cataloged as Miller NY-399. The dies for merchant tokens were typically cut by professional engravers, though some frontier examples show more primitive workmanship.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens. Professor Johnson issued 3 known token varieties.

Cross References

Miller NY-399