1789' Token Mott - Thick - Plain Edge

Coin Details

Description

Issued by the New York City goldsmithing and watchmaking firm of William and John Mott, whose shop stood at 240 Water Street in lower Manhattan, this thick planchet variant of the Mott token is cataloged as Whitman 8225 and bears the date 1789 — though numismatic scholarship generally places actual production in the 1790s, as the date likely commemorates the firm's founding year rather than the year of striking. The obverse depicts an eagle with spread wings, while the reverse shows a regulator clock and pair of fob watches, advertising the Motts' trade. This particular variant is distinguished by its thick planchet weighing approximately 12 grams — substantially heavier than the thin planchet version at roughly 8 grams — and its plain edge, contrasting with the engrailed edge found on other die combinations. Struck in copper with a diameter of 28 mm, the Mott token is part of the Post-1776 Private and Regional Issues series and represents one of the earliest American merchant advertising tokens. Cataloged as PCGS #603. While classified as moderately scarce, Mott tokens as a group circulated widely in New York and are among the most recognized early American store cards. The thick planchet with plain edge combination helps collectors quickly distinguish this variety from the thin planchet issues, with the weight difference immediately apparent when the coin is handled. These tokens document the entrepreneurial spirit of early American commerce, where private merchants filled monetary gaps by issuing their own copper pieces.

Rarity Notes

Moderately scarce.

Cross References

Whitman 8225