The author has over 30 years experience in North American numismatics. He is the author of numerous articles about exonumia, including those about tokens, scrip, and the public who used them. He is a member of the ANA, VNA, ACC, C4, CWTS, TAMS, MD-TAMS, AVA, NSCA, and NumisSociety.
The brainchild of a German immigrant, New York’s Crystal Palace was built in the early 1850s as an exhibition hall. Inspired by London’s famous Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, entrepreneur and promoter Christian E. Detmold had a dream to erect a similar venue in the United States, whereContinue Reading
Born in Germany in 1834, Edward Aschermann emigrated to the United States at about the age of 16. Quickly assimilating as a new immigrant, Aschermann didn’t wait very long to establish his own business. It is uncertain as to when Aschermann took residence in Wisconsin, but as early as 1859Continue Reading
Long before the days of email attachments, fax machines, Federal Express, DHL, and even wire transfers there existed Hussey’s Instant Special Message Post. The brainchild of George Tuttle Hussey, his business provided same day delivery serviceContinue Reading
In the early 1830s New Jersey, there was a picturesque and grandiose town established, situated in Monmouth County. Located thirteen miles south of Freehold, and six miles west of Sea Girt, the settlement was known as the town of Allaire.Continue Reading
Samuel Hart and his playing cards are a legend in American history in both the sport and pastime card players. Hart is credited with the introduction of many advancements and innovations which have become the standard features of playing cards available for purchase today in the United States.Continue Reading
As early as the middle of the 16th Century, less than 100 years after Columbus’ journey to the new world, tobacco was readily farmed and consumed by Europeans who voyaged and settled in the Americas. A plant long cultivated by Native Americans, Europeans quickly adopted an affinity for its consumption,Continue Reading
Historically, numismatic researchers such as Rulau, Brunk, and others have attributed the VOTE THE LAND / FREE token to the Free Soil Party, which was a political movement that believed in the precondition that all new states admittedContinue Reading
The Ferracute Machine Company was founded by American Inventor and industrialist and inventor Oberlin Smith in 1863. Established in the town of Bridgeton, New Jersey, the company was in existence for 105 years until 1968.Continue Reading
Our nation’s first interstate, the National Road, traversed through Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. It was the United States’ first fully paved highway, funded and built by the Federal government. Providing a connection between the Potomac and Ohio Rivers, it initially stretched a distance of approximately 620Continue Reading
Of the many token varieties listed in Wright, Miller, and Rulau, few are as difficult to attribute than the merchant token emissions of Nathan C. Folger. Collectors will find that this is not because the emissions consist of a vast number of obscure differences, but rather because the aforementioned authors did an incredibly confusing job of documenting the varieties. Continue Reading
Dalton & Hamer’s Provincial Token-Coinage of the 18th Century. Published 1910. The guide is an exhaustive work on attributing Conder tokens struck throughout the United Kingdom, and is considered by collectors as the ultimate authoritative catalog for Conder tokens. The guide itself is organized based on five major geographic regions…Continue Reading
Shortly before the American Civil War, an Irish nationalist militia was formed in the United States. Founded by Irish immigrants John O’Mahony and Michael Doheny, it was known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood. Situated as an arm of the Ireland-based Irish Republican Brotherhood, it was an organization whose goal wasContinue Reading
