Feutchwanger's Cent

After the panic of 1837 and the subsequent 5 year depression thereafter, known as the Hard Times, Lewis Feuchtwanger issued tokens made of German Silver. It was during these times that much of the coinage in the U.S. was hoarded and disappeared from circulation. Feuchtwanger distributed these tokens out of his pharmacy in New York City, where they remained in circulation up to and during the Civil War.

Decades before the use of nickel-alloy for circulation coinage in the United States, Feuechtwanger proposed his token's alloy to Congress as a lesser expensive metal for use in the minting of U.S. coppers. Congress turned down his proposal. German Silver is an alloy primarily made of copper, nickel, tin, and zinc.

In addition to his one cent token, Feuchtwanger later also minted a 3-cent piece made of the same alloy.

This particular specimen that I obtained today is NGC slabbed, AU Details. You will notice obverse flaws in the specimen, at the base of the eagle's neck, and at the top of the eagle's right wing.

I obtained it today for a very pleasing, moderate price.

Thoughts and input appreciated.

Thanks, kindly

- CheetahCats

 

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Learn something new everyday. And what I learned here is simply amazing. Awesome cent! How many of those did they make? And how many actually got into circulation (if any at all)?

 

Cool !

 

Thanks for the info and congrats! These are pretty cool and I just got my first one as well last weekend. Nice!

 

That is a beauty of a coin.!! Congratz on the oppurtunity to own such a rare and unique coin. I love the eagle design used on the obverse of the coin and thanks for the pictures as I have only seen it in books with small pics.

 

I'll look to cite a source for you that lists the mintage numbers

 

Thanks Lol, love that icon!

I've been eyeballing getting one of these for a few weeks now.

 

I don't believe there are any real mintage numbers since it was a private issue that I think he struck himself. I think there were about 8 obv dies used and if you figure an average of between 50 and 100 thousand strikes per die I would think a total mintage between 400 and 800 thousand might be in the ballpark. It may be lower though as some of the varieties are quite rare.

 

I have two varieties.

I should take pictures & post them.

 

Even though I posted it in a few other thread already, here's my HT-268(6I) graded NGC MS66:

 

I have one of them (not as nice as yours, though). I would like to add the 3¢ piece, but I imagine they go for pretty penny.

 

The three cent piece probably goes for three pretty pennies

 

That eagle looks like what was on my roof the other morning. They are really nice, I only wish I had one. Great thread...

 

That would be what would be called the defiant eagle pose. For a bit more artistic version check out the rev of the 1918 Illinois centennial half or the 1921 Alabama centennial half.

 

I always liked Feuchtwangers so I've picked up two in my life.

Would love to add a Three Cent but they are pricey and from what I understand there are a lot of counterfeits out there.

An interesting and beautiful piece of history.

 

This thread is so cool !

 

Would you call that a not yet Flying Eagle?

OK! Bad joke. I'm a little delirious tonight for some reason.

 

Thanks for posting the explanation and history. I have seen a couple of these and wondered what the story was. Illini -- that's a beauty.

 

I agree wholeheartedly! He also knew the difference between a cent and a penny, which seems to be a minority position in some circles.

 

Just this weekend at the Greater Cincinnati show I happened to pick up a copy of the December 2004 TAMS journal which has a nice attribution guide for these tokens. Seems there are six obverses and eight reverses for a total of thirteen varieties, six of which are rare with two of them being R-8's.

Cheetahcat's coin is a 6I, the same as Illini420's, and it is an R-1 the most common variety.