These are new examples in my collection of a series of tokens issued by the Stiner family of New York in the mid to late 1800's. I've been researching them for nearly five years now, and have learned a lot about their use and the people who issued them. The Jos. Stiner & Co. tokens have been known to numismatists for well over a century, but the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1 denominations, the 1840 date, and the significance of the lettered, 6-pointed stars counterstamped on each hsve been poorly understood. Not to go into too much detail here, but I've determined that the 1840 date (15 years prior to half-brothers Joseph and Jacob Stiner's arrival in this country) was the founding date of the New York & China Tea Co., a wholesaler of loose tea that the Stiners gained control of at some point. The actual organizer of the company was a man named Edward T. Christensen, a tea and coffee dealer in New York dating back to the late 1830's. The Stiners didn't organize their company until 1855, so until now the 1840 date on their tokens made no sense. These tokens were apparently "good-fors" that allowed a person to redeem one for 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or 1 lb. of tea. These were the common pre-wrapped package weights of the day. Genarally a pound of tea sold for about a dollar at that time. The lettered, 6-pointed stars are thought to have been stamped on the incuse style tokens by the individual stores in the Stiner "empire". In later years after their company was established the family had dozens of locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. As a matter of fact, today, they're considered by many to be the first "chain Store" in the U.S. In any case, I think it's unlikely that each letter represented a different location. There simply aren't enough different varities known to cover that many outlets. Instead, they may represent the type of tea it was good for, or have some kind of religious conotation (the Stiners were Jewish). Or it could be for an entirely different purpose. This is the one loose end in my research. Eventually I'll find the answer though. The large bronze token was issued by M.H. Moses & Co. in 1876. Moses H. Moses was Jacob Stiner's son-in-law who was in the New York tea trade from the mid 1870's until at least 1900. Note the reference to the New York & China Tea Co. on the reverse. This 38 mm token really looks and feels like a medal. It was struck in brass, bronze, white metal, leather, and aluminum ( a rare metal for the time). It was likely meant as a presentation piece, and not a circulating token. This piece was graded by Steve Hayden as MS-63. I hope you enjoyed my little presentation. I find these tokens fascinating and wanted to share whatI know about them with you. Thanks for looking. Bruce
Very interesting Bruce, thats for taking the time to "enlighten" us! I really like the detail of Independence Hall. The windows and the trees are incredable!
Thanks Mark. I really would love to know who the diesinker was, it's incredible work. It was probably cut in a Philadelphia shop, but who knows. Bruce
I just loved reading your presentation. And being a token man my self apriciate your effort in the reseaech. And the tokens are beautiful in their simplicity.
Thanks Siggi. Tokens are very appealing because there are so many types and varieties in many series. They lend themselves to serious research which I love to do. The harder the challenge , the better I like it. I've nearly completed this project but I have a handful of others I've been working on for even longer. Once I start on something I never quit. Sometimes I'll put it aside for a year or so, but I always come back to it. By the way Siggi, did you come up with any Icelandic counterstamps yet? Bruce
I agree the Independence Hall medal is spectacular. Do you have any kind of estimate on how many of these were made?
I have no rarity rating on this token Hunter but I'd think the mintage was very small. The white metal issue is very rare, since most of the examples struck were melted for some reason. There are only about a dozen of these known. The leather example is apparently unique...don't ask, I have no idea how they strike a token on leather The specimen on aluminum is apparently unique as well. There's a second obverse other than Independence Hall. The Liberty Bell is also depicted on some copper and bronze versions, but they seem more common than the Independence Hall strikes. There are also proof examples known. Bruce
