(No Date) Token HT-C346, Syracuse on 1775 2 Reales NY

Coin Details

Description

This token is a counterstamp variety of the Hiram Judson token from Syracuse, New York, applied to a Spanish colonial 2 Reales coin dated 1775. Judson was a watchmaker, silversmith, and jeweler who also sold an eclectic inventory including military goods, musical instruments, pianos, and printed music. The reverse inscription "B & S NY" identifies Bale & Smith of New York as the die-cutters who produced the original token dies. Syracuse in the 1830s was a rapidly growing canal town, situated along the Erie Canal, which had transformed it from a salt-producing settlement into a major commercial hub for central New York. Judson's diverse inventory reflects the needs of a frontier community where a single merchant might combine several specialized trades—watchmaking, silversmithing, jewelry sales, and music merchandising—that would have been separate businesses in larger cities. The counterstamp on a 1775 Spanish 2 Reales is particularly interesting, as the host coin predates American independence. By the 1830s, these colonial-era coins had been circulating for over half a century, and their continued use in American commerce demonstrates the persistence of foreign silver coinage in the young nation's monetary system.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Counterstamp on 1775 Spanish 2 Reales. Watchmaker, silversmith, and music dealer.

Cross References

Rulau HT-C346