Posted 9 years ago
Militarist
(296 items)
To start with this is a brass Scovill Manufacturing Company advertising token undated circa 1855. Rulau NY803a. The reverse design is based on the U.S. gold eagle with the advertising inscription “DAGUERREOTYPE MATERIALS 57 MAIDEN LANE. N.Y.” The obverse probably had the Coronet Liberty Head design with the name Scovill in the head band but we will never know because some romantic fellow shaved off the design and engraved it with the monogram CM or some thing like that. The same person is most likely also the person who had this piece gold washed. I wish the original version of this token had been left intact but I suspect love token collectors might disagree.
Scovill had tokens for two different address. The 101 William St. address had the liberty head. This 57 Maiden Lane version has advertising text on the reverse side:
"Scovill Manufacturing Company - Daguerreotype Goods" around the circumference. The center of the token should say: "Manufacturers of Roll Brass, German-Silver, Plated Metal, Guilt-Buttons, Brass Butts & Platedware."
There were several versions of this particular token; copper, silver, and gilt brass. Only the gilt brass version had a reed edge - which this has.
Anyhow, this is really nice.
Thanks rniederman! The Rulau book doesn't explain it that clearly.