(c.1860) Token Sage's Historical No. 1 Brass The Old Provoost

Coin Details

Auction Record

$408 MS64 08-31-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This brass token from Sage's Historical series, number 1, depicts the Old Provoost, a colonial-era structure in New York City that served various civic functions during the Dutch and British periods. The Provoost, derived from the Dutch word for provost or marshal, was associated with early law enforcement and municipal governance in New Amsterdam and later New York. Charles Sage selected subjects for his token series that resonated with the antiquarian interests of mid-nineteenth-century collectors, particularly buildings and institutions that connected the modern city to its colonial past. The brass composition of this piece distinguishes it from the more common copper strikings of the same design. Sage's tokens circulated primarily among numismatic collectors rather than in commerce, making them early examples of privately issued collector pieces in the American numismatic tradition.

Rarity Notes

Brass striking of No. 1 reverse variant. Sage's Historical Tokens are a popular collector series from the Civil War era.

Cross References

PCGS #803561; Sage's Historical Token No. 1, Brass, The Old Provoost