Higley "Three Hammers" token
Date1737
Issued by
Dr. Samuel Higley
MediumCopper
DimensionsDiameter: 27.5 mm
Credit LineGift of the Lasser family
Object number2002-77,6
DescriptionObverse: Deer standing to left, pointing left hand and 5-pointed star in exergue.Reverse: Three crowned hammers to left, pointing left hand and decorative devices flanking date.
Label TextBefore becoming an entrepreneur and metallurgist, Dr. Samuel Higley was a schoolmaster and surgeon. After buying copper-rich property near Granby, Dr. Higley began to export large quantities of the metal to England. Seeing a chance to capitalize on the need for small change, in 1737 Dr. Higley began to strike his own tokens with a number of different designs. He was lost at sea later that year and it is believed his brother John continued to strike tokens until 1739.
Most of the very few surviving Higley tokens are heavily worn. This example has a stag on the obverse and the legend VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE. The reverse bears three crowned hammers, the date 1737, and the legend I AM GOOD COPPER. These charming pieces were the first base-metal issues struck in the British American colonies.
Breen - 241
InscribedObverse: "VALUE . ME . AS . YOU . PLEASE," "III" below deer in exergue.
Reverse: "I . AM . GOOD . COPPER. 1737"
ProvenancePurchased from Anthony Terranova, 16 April 1999.
1660-1680
ca. 1815
ca. 1780
ca. 1790
