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Message:: [QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 3436926, member: 101855"]And yes, here are the tokens ... P.T. Barnum's Numismatic LegacyLike many 19th century merchants, Barnum issued tokens to advertise his business. One of the most interesting of these pieces provides an attractive depiction of his American Museum in New York City. The obverse features a well executed view of the building with the words "New York" above it and "P.T. Barnum, proprietor" below it. The makers, "Allen & Moore, Medalists & C · Birm ·" appears in tiny letters below the building. John Allen and Joseph Moore formed a partnership in 1844. They became the leading die markers in Birmingham, England during the first half of the 19th century and trained many of the die makers in the area. [ATTACH=full]912545[/ATTACH][ATTACH=full]912546[/ATTACH] The reverse of the piece features a small portrait of Barnum at the top surrounded by his full name, "Phineas  T. Barnum. Below that is an exhaustive list of the attractions that Barnum had on display in his museum, which was said to number "50,000 curiosities." The admission price was "only 25 cents." These pieces are known in copper and white metal, and are 40 mm in diameter. The piece in my collection is made of silver plated white metal and has taken on an attractive patina which makes it look like a sold silver piece. This token is scarce and sells for several hundred dollars when it is offered for sale, most often in token and medal auctions. [ATTACH=full]912547[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]912548[/ATTACH]Barnum's other tokens advertised his greatest attraction, Tom Thumb. One features the diminutive gentleman leaning on a book with various other objects around him that emphasize his tiny stature. They include a bottle, a wine glass, a letter opener and an ink stand. The reverse features Tom Thumb's tiny carriage drawn by four ponies. Barnum had this carriage custom made in England at great expense. It was attended by two coachmen who were actually children dressed in uniforms and wigs. At the time that he purchased this promotion for his diminutive star, Barnum said that this attraction would "kill the public ... They can't survive! It will be the greatest hit in the universe, see if it ain't!" [ATTACH=full]912549[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]912550[/ATTACH]There are also two other Tom Thumb pieces which may have been used as both advertisements and game counters. The American version features a reproduction of the capped bust design that appeared on American silver coins in the 1830s. The British version includes the "young head" version of Queen Victoria's bust which appeared on many British coins in the 19th century. Both pieces depict Tom Thumb on the reverse, posing by a book, with the words, "General Tom Thumb, 15 lb weight." These tokens are fairly common. [ATTACH=full]912551[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]912552[/ATTACH]The best known of all the Barnum pieces to American collectors is the 1936 Bridgeport, Connecticut commemorative half dollar. This piece, which was designed by Henry Kreis, features a bust of Barnum on the obverse with the words, "Bridgeport, Connecticut centennial, 1836 - 1936, P. T. Barnum." The reverse is dominated by an art deco style eagle with the statutory phrases, "United States of America, in God we trust, E. Pluribus Unum, Liberty" and "half dollar." The mintage was 25,015 which makes this piece neither the least nor the most expensive issue among the "old" U.S. commemorative coins. In the currently weak commemorative coin market, nice examples of this piece can be purchased for less than $200. Whether you consider him to be a charlatan or a great entertainer, P. T. Barnum is one of the most colorful and interesting Americans who lived in the 19th century. His is heritage remains with us today.  Although "The Greatest Show on Earth" will soon become a memory, it's legacy will remain in the minds of the children and adults who had the opportunity to see it.[/QUOTE]

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