(c.1860) Token Sage's Historical No. 9 Brass Richmond Hill House

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 MS64 11-09-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Sage's Historical token number 9 in brass depicts Richmond Hill House, a grand mansion in lower Manhattan that served as the residence of several prominent Americans including George Washington during his presidency when New York was the national capital, Vice President John Adams, and later Aaron Burr. The house was located near present-day Varick and Charlton Streets in Greenwich Village. Richmond Hill was one of the finest residences in colonial and early republic New York, set on a hilltop with commanding views of the Hudson River. The mansion was eventually demolished as the city expanded northward, making Sage's token one of the few visual records of this important but vanished landmark. Token die sinkers developed specialized skills in miniature design and metalworking that paralleled the capabilities of government mint engravers, though working with smaller budgets and less sophisticated equipment. The brass composition of this piece distinguishes it from the copper version of the same design.

Rarity Notes

Brass striking, scarcer than copper. Richmond Hill House has presidential association with Washington and Adams.

Cross References

PCGS #803560; Sage's Historical Token No. 9, Brass, Richmond Hill House