W.A.Drown - Manufacturers of Parasols & Umbrellas - Storecards

[CheetahCats]

During the mid 19th century Philadelphia was the nation's foremost city which produced sunshades, parasols, and umbrellas.

 

Multiple manufacturers called the city home. And as such, they aggressively competed among themselves. The tokens struck for these companies reflect such competition.

 

Like other niche exonumia pursuits, some collectors enjoy pursuing tokens that center around a particular merchant or product.

 

Parasol tokens are one such niche that I enjoy pursuing.

 

Below please find a sample of W.A. Drown merchant tokens from my cabinet. As storecards, these tokens not only served as a means to satisfy the need for minor coinage in commerce, but also advertised the firm's products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up will be several tokens from Drown's competitors.

 

Thanks,

 

Cheetah

[PennyGuy]

Great stuff CC, Welcome aboard

 

[nunfa0]

Awesome series of posts!!

 

Keep them rolling for us.

[MJ]

Well done, great tokens and welcome to the forum! MJ

[CheetahCats]

W.H. Richardson & Co was another sunshade, parasol, and umbrella manufacturer with operations headquartered in Philadelphia. Token emissions from this merchant spanned two decades. Sometime during

 

the 1850s the firm expanded, and established a retail outlet in New York City.

 

As with the W.A. Drown Company, tokens were exchanged in commerce, and were struck in a variety of compositions, including copper, brass, silvered brass, cupronickel, and silver.

 

Pristine examples from both merchants are infrequently encountered. However, though more common in lower grades, higher grade examples of Richardson's tokens are even less encountered.

 

 

Thanks,

 

Cheetah