Found another token i couldn't resist... 1837 feuchtwanger cent

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The Mexican version doesn't look the same though. Maybe it's the cactus that throws it off for me. This one looks almost exactly the same just facing the other way.
Either way, it's a great design. Love that eagle.

 

He also proposed supplying the mint with the metal as well. This document is from Sept 1, 1837, the last two comments were written on the back by the Director.

CIRCULAR
I submit for your consideration a specimen of a one cent piece made of American Composition, known by the name of German Silver, equivalent in value to One Cent in Copper, which I propose with the authority of Congress to substitute for the existing unclean and unhealthy Copper Currency by which a handsome current coin may be obtained answerable for the fractional parts of a dollar, and acceptable in the operations of trade and local purposes. If this “Silver Penny” as I wish to have it designated shall be approved by Congress as a substitute for the one Cent pieces, I shall in that case, propose to remunerate the Mint for any loss sustained by the United States by the withdrawal of the Copper Coin. I am ready to contract for the delivery at the Mint of any amount of the Composition which Congress may authorize to be coins.
Dr Lewis Feuchtwanger
New-York City


If F is willing to supply any amount of material ready for striking at the same ratio to copper that is to say at near a price as will allow the mint to have the same seigniorage.

If F is also willing to redeem the copper cents at whatever may be their actual value in copper new and old.

Later they were apparently considering it and they submitted a questions to an outside consultant about the material. I thought I had his reply but I haven't located it.

Mint U.S.
Dec 5th, 1837
Sir,
A memorial has been presented to the Congress by Dr. Lewis Feuchwanger of New York in favor of the introduction of the combination called argentine or German Silver, as a substitute for copper, in the American Coins of a low denomination, and my opinion of the propriety of this matter has been officially asked. As I know that, [xxxxx] your general familiarity of chemistry, you have had opportunities of being particularly acquainted with the preparation and qualities of the German Silver, I take the liberty of asking information of you, as to the following points.
1st The German Silver is known to be a compound of Copper, Zinc, and Nickel. What are the proportions in which these metals usually enter?
2nd Can these proportions be much [xxxxx] without the external character of the compound being appreciably altered?
3rd Is the Nickel, which is the distinctive ingredient of the compound, a metal of which a consistent supply could be depended upon, or would an increased demand be likely to make it scarce and dear?
4th What are the sources from which it is usually obtained?
5th Is it subject to the [xxxxx of xxxxxxxx], and if so, of what kind? Are these such as to affect the ductility of the compound made with it?
6th Are there any other compounds with or without the presence of Nickel which resemble the German Silver in their external character, and which might be passed for it in coins without ready detection?
7th It is an additional quality of a compound used in coinage that means be at command for assaying it with readiness and exactness. Is this the case with the compound in question?
I shall be thankful to receive any other information that you may possess upon this subject or any suggestions with regard to it that may be presented to your mind.
R. M. Patterson Director

 

Nice addition

 

Here are couple more examples of this unusual token.

This is the best one I have owned. These pieces are listed among the Hard Times Tokens. The overall number is Low 120 or HTT 268. Within those numbers, there are 13 sub-varieties in the book by Russell Rulau. This one is 5-G, and it's listed as an R-2, fairly common.



And I almost forgot I had this one. I won it for an exhibit I displayed at the 2018 Winter FUN show. This one is sub-variety 6-I, which is an R-1, very common.



And here is the most common Feuchtwanger three cent piece, the variety with the New York State Seal on it.



The others with the big, beautiful eagle on them are a lot tougher.