The Hammacher Schlemmer 175th Anniversary Silver Token

This is the limited-edition tribute silver token honoring the 175th anniversary of Hammacher Schlemmer, the storied institution that publishes America's longest running catalog. During the height of the Civil War, a scarcity of precious metals as well as hoarding resulted in a severe shortage of legal tender coins. To remedy the problem, businesses began minting their own coins, known as “Rebellion Tokens,” which were given to customers as change. (This practice was outlawed in June of 1864.) Unlike the copper tokens distributed at its Bowery hardware store by the business (then called Hammacher & Tollner), this collectible coin contains one ounce of 99.9% fine silver, accented with a 24K gold plated center. The obverse of the coin bears the company name and location, while its reverse has olive branches that surround the phrase “Not One Cent” and the name of the engraver. The 1 1/2" diameter coin comes in a clear protective capsule with a display box. No more than 175 will be issued.