Somerville Set - 1 and 2 cent Patterns & Related
1837 1C Feuchtwanger Token
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Coin Details
| Origin/Country: |
United States |
| Design Description: |
HARD TIMES TOKENS - RULAU |
| Item Description: |
1C 1837 NEW YORK HT-268(6I) FEUCHTWANGERS COMPOSITION FEUCHTWANGER COMPOSITION |
| Full Grade: |
NGC MS 63 |
| Owner: |
RichH |
Owner Comments:
Obverse design of aggressive eagle with snake captured by claws, Reverse design of ONE CENT in middle surrounded by wreath leaves with "FEUCHTWANGER'S COMPOSITION" around rim.
Coin description: Lovely surfaces on well stuck Feuchwanger token.
Background: In 1837 Dr Feuctwanger petitioned Congress for the use of his alloy on minor coinage. Known as German silver the metal consisted of nickel, copper and some zinc.The good Doctor struck tokens in 1 and 3 cent versions. The Mint rejected his proposal on the grounds it could not be uniformly produced to meet demand. It is amazing that this small cent trial was rejected by Congress 19 years before the introduction of Longacre's small cent 1856 Flying Eagle. As a footnote, after repeated lobbying Feuctwanger gave up his attempt to have the coin authorized, and finally mass produced his tokens and passed them to the public for a profit.