No Date Token Miller-NY-912 Brass S.H. Thompson NY

Coin Details

Description

S.H. Thompson was a New York City merchant whose undated brass token (Miller NY-912) served as an advertising piece and circulated as emergency small change. Thompson's token is part of the Miller catalog's comprehensive documentation of New York merchant tokens, which collectively provide an unparalleled record of the city's commercial life in the mid-nineteenth century. The Miller catalog, published by Stephen K. Miller in 1920 with subsequent supplements, catalogs approximately 1,000 merchant tokens from across the United States. The brass composition gave this token an attractive golden hue that distinguished it from copper coinage. Brass planchets were slightly more expensive than copper but produced a more visually striking advertising piece. Cataloged as Miller NY-912. American merchant tokens represent an important chapter in the economic history of the United States, documenting the businesses, products, and commercial practices of the 19th century.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more commonly encountered metal variants for merchant tokens.

Cross References

Miller NY-912