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About This Group
This group is dedicated to understanding the works of Boston's leading die sinker during the American Civil War, Joseph Henry Merriam.
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- U.S. Coins
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- Here is a new purchase, Merriam's copy of the famous Brasher Doubloon. Commissioned by Connecticut banker Alfred S. Robinson in 1859 or 1860. I had this piece in brass, but I couldnt find it in copper for the longest time. This one is very attractive.Here is a new purchase, Merriam's copy of the famous Brasher Doubloon. Commissioned by Connecticut banker Alfred S. Robinson in 1859 or 1860. I had this piece in brass, but I couldnt find it in copper for the longest time. This one is very attractive.
0 Comments 0 Shares 605 Views - 1863 C.F. Tuttle's Restaurant. Boston, MA
One of many beautiful storecards produced by Joseph H. Merriam in Boston. It is thought that this was the first use of a "modular die." Merriam designed the reverse die in such a way that the center could be removed and exchanged for a different denomination. If you look closely, you will see the circle that surrounds the number.
This merchant is known to have 5c, 10c, 25c, and 50c varieties, all good towards meals on Washington Street. They're worth quite a bit more today than in 1863. Probably several complete dinners for you and your closest coin buddies!0 Comments 0 Shares 557 Views - This is Merriam's storecard attributed as MA115E-2b in brass. I have found this to be rarer than the copper version at about a 1:3 ratio. When found, it is almost always spotted or dinged with the some problem (even in a straight graded slab.) The present example is undergraded at PCGS MS64. It is the nicest Ive seen with booming luster and mark free surfaces. I grade it MS66This is Merriam's storecard attributed as MA115E-2b in brass. I have found this to be rarer than the copper version at about a 1:3 ratio. When found, it is almost always spotted or dinged with the some problem (even in a straight graded slab.) The present example is undergraded at PCGS MS64. It is the nicest Ive seen with booming luster and mark free surfaces. I grade it MS66
0 Comments 1 Shares 1332 Views - Added this blazer to the collection of Merriam tokens last year to complement the "Good For A Scent" token that shares the same obverse die. This is MA115E-2A, and it retains the most red Ive seen on this variety in my years of searching. Usually the grade on the slab means very little to me with exonumia, but I have to agree with NGC here: MS67RB.
0 Comments 0 Shares 625 Views - This is the famous (perhaps most famous of all CWTs) "Good For A Scent" token by Joseph H. Merriam. It belonged to the late Steve Tannenbaum, who picked this example for his personal collection. It resides in a NGC MS66+RB holder, but it is nearly full red and is the best example I've ever seen.
Merriam is most known for this civil war token depicting a golden retriever.This is the famous (perhaps most famous of all CWTs) "Good For A Scent" token by Joseph H. Merriam. It belonged to the late Steve Tannenbaum, who picked this example for his personal collection. It resides in a NGC MS66+RB holder, but it is nearly full red and is the best example I've ever seen. Merriam is most known for this civil war token depicting a golden retriever.
1 Comments 0 Shares 645 Views - Here is the same Rosa Americana copy by Merriam, but in silver. Silver is the rarest composition and is found very infrequently. That said, in the last 5 years Ive noticed about 4 different examples for sale in auctions.Here is the same Rosa Americana copy by Merriam, but in silver. Silver is the rarest composition and is found very infrequently. That said, in the last 5 years Ive noticed about 4 different examples for sale in auctions.
0 Comments 0 Shares 572 Views - Keeping with the theme of Alfred S. Robinson copies, this is Merriam's version of the Rosa Americana in copper. From the Eric P. Newman Collection to my own.Keeping with the theme of Alfred S. Robinson copies, this is Merriam's version of the Rosa Americana in copper. From the Eric P. Newman Collection to my own.0 Comments 0 Shares 539 Views
- Another Alfred S. Robinson colonial copy by Merriam. This one, the famous Elephant token. "God Preserve New England 1694." Struck in Copper Nickel, very rare. I picked this up from the sale of the Eric P. Newman Collection.Another Alfred S. Robinson colonial copy by Merriam. This one, the famous Elephant token. "God Preserve New England 1694." Struck in Copper Nickel, very rare. I picked this up from the sale of the Eric P. Newman Collection.0 Comments 0 Shares 499 Views
- A civil war token from Virginia? Not so fast! Research from David Schenkman found this token to be post war, as the oysterman Frank Pfeiffer didnt go into business in Norfolk until the late 1860s. Still, it is paired with Merriam's famous "Good For A Scent" die which forever ties this merchant to the CWT family. Alas, "non-contemporary."
All surviving tokens from Pfeiffer display varying degrees of damage, and most have evidence of spending some time in the ground.
Pfeiffer commited suicide in 1882 due to financial ruin, and Ive often wondered if he himself buried these tokens once he redeemed them to discontinue their use.
1 Comments 0 Shares 528 Views - Non Vi Virtute Vici Colonial copy struck in silver by Merriam. This is an important work commissioned by Connecticut banker Alfred S. Robinson, probably in the late 1850s. The Latin translates to "Not by violence, but by excellence have I conquered." The subject reportedly is George Clinton, former Revolutionary War brigadier general and governor of New York. It is conversely thought to be George Washington by many, and is included in Musante's book on the Washingtonia. Exceedingly rare in this metal, perhaps 3-5 knownNon Vi Virtute Vici Colonial copy struck in silver by Merriam. This is an important work commissioned by Connecticut banker Alfred S. Robinson, probably in the late 1850s. The Latin translates to "Not by violence, but by excellence have I conquered." The subject reportedly is George Clinton, former Revolutionary War brigadier general and governor of New York. It is conversely thought to be George Washington by many, and is included in Musante's book on the Washingtonia. Exceedingly rare in this metal, perhaps 3-5 known
0 Comments 0 Shares 550 Views - Comer's Commercial College Bank, Boston. 1c PCGS MS62
Merriam cut the dies for this piece, which has been suggested is play money to be used to teach students about finances. I have found this to be highly improbable. Although the college certainly printed currency to be used in such fashion, these cent sized tokens are very scarcely encountered today. I would think they would have been minted in such quantities that we would still find them with regularity. I think they were probably used as other storecards circulated-for advertising purposes in exchange for a cent.Comer's Commercial College Bank, Boston. 1c PCGS MS62 Merriam cut the dies for this piece, which has been suggested is play money to be used to teach students about finances. I have found this to be highly improbable. Although the college certainly printed currency to be used in such fashion, these cent sized tokens are very scarcely encountered today. I would think they would have been minted in such quantities that we would still find them with regularity. I think they were probably used as other storecards circulated-for advertising purposes in exchange for a cent.
0 Comments 1 Shares 1148 Views - Washington/ Made From A Copper Bolt Taken From The Wreck of the Frigate Congress.
Like many of Merriam's pieces, this one is extremely rare with only a handful known. This is an example of a "relic medal," a piece struck using metal that was original used for some other significant purpose in history. In this case, from a bolt in the Frigate Congress, which was sunk in the Battle of Hampton Roads by the C.S.S. Virginia. (Merrimack.)Washington/ Made From A Copper Bolt Taken From The Wreck of the Frigate Congress. Like many of Merriam's pieces, this one is extremely rare with only a handful known. This is an example of a "relic medal," a piece struck using metal that was original used for some other significant purpose in history. In this case, from a bolt in the Frigate Congress, which was sunk in the Battle of Hampton Roads by the C.S.S. Virginia. (Merrimack.)0 Comments 0 Shares 636 Views - A truly unusual Civil War token, this was good for 5 cents at Apollo Gardens in Boston and is struck on an octagonal thin sheet of brass. My theory, which has been copied in a recent auction catalog, is that the planchets were cut from a brass stencil sheet in the shop of Joseph H. Merriam. Merriam, of course, was a stencil maker by trade and as a die sinker, struck the beautiful Apollo Gardens 6 cent piece. I own one of his original stencils, and the appearance and thickness of the metal is commensurate with this token.
3-4 knownA truly unusual Civil War token, this was good for 5 cents at Apollo Gardens in Boston and is struck on an octagonal thin sheet of brass. My theory, which has been copied in a recent auction catalog, is that the planchets were cut from a brass stencil sheet in the shop of Joseph H. Merriam. Merriam, of course, was a stencil maker by trade and as a die sinker, struck the beautiful Apollo Gardens 6 cent piece. I own one of his original stencils, and the appearance and thickness of the metal is commensurate with this token. 3-4 known
0 Comments 0 Shares 628 Views - Here is an example of an illogical muling of the "Parties Supplied At Short Notice" die, which I previously stated was used extensively. This token features the work of two die sinkers: the aforementioned Merriam die paired with John Bolen's Soldier's Fair Dec '64.
These mulings were struck in the 1870s at the direction of W. Elliot Woodward. All are extremely rare with stated mintages of only 5 struck.
#Merriam
#Bolen
Here is an example of an illogical muling of the "Parties Supplied At Short Notice" die, which I previously stated was used extensively. This token features the work of two die sinkers: the aforementioned Merriam die paired with John Bolen's Soldier's Fair Dec '64. These mulings were struck in the 1870s at the direction of W. Elliot Woodward. All are extremely rare with stated mintages of only 5 struck. #Merriam #Bolen0 Comments 0 Shares 662 Views - George Fera Studio Building/ Parties Supplied At Short Notice. "10" Raw AU
Like many of Merriam's early pieces, this has a space in the middle of the token to be counterstamped woth a number. This one is 10, most likely a table check.
Merriam struck alot of really rare pieces, but this one eluded me for over a decade! George Fera operated a well known confectionary in Boston. Somehow the reverse die "Parties Supplied At Short Notice" was used extensively and illogically with many of his stock dies. But this seems to be the intended die marriage based on advertisements of the day.George Fera Studio Building/ Parties Supplied At Short Notice. "10" Raw AU Like many of Merriam's early pieces, this has a space in the middle of the token to be counterstamped woth a number. This one is 10, most likely a table check. Merriam struck alot of really rare pieces, but this one eluded me for over a decade! George Fera operated a well known confectionary in Boston. Somehow the reverse die "Parties Supplied At Short Notice" was used extensively and illogically with many of his stock dies. But this seems to be the intended die marriage based on advertisements of the day.0 Comments 0 Shares 706 Views
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