(1832-44) Token HT-441 Copper Beck's Public Baths VA, RB MS(PCGS#77814)

August 2019 ANA U.S. Coins Auction Rosemont, IL

拍卖行

Stack's Bowers

批号

420

等级

MS64RB

价格

101,642

详细说明

Lovely Near-Gem HT-441 Beck's Public Baths Near-Full Mint Red The Steinberg (2002) - Dice-Hicks Specimen Virginia--Richmond. Undated (1832-1844) Beck's Public Baths. HT-441, Low-275, W-VA-040-10a. Rarity-4. Copper. Plain Edge. 28.5 mm. MS-64 RB (PCGS). Medal alignment, slight counterclockwise offset. Gorgeous near full mint red on both sides, toning lightly and mottled in iridescent gray-brown. Surfaces smooth, hard, fully lustrous and glossy. Sharp strike. While not rare as a type, a Beck's Baths token in nearly superb condition like this is extremely uncommon. Most are circulated to one degree or another, some heavily so. Russ Rulau and associates specifically list this specimen, writing "An Unc. 441 fetched $3450 in B&M Nov. 2002 sale, lot 5469." This token was part of the special display of highlights from the Dice-Hicks Collection during the 2008 Long Beach, Baltimore and Phoenix mid-winter A.N.A. numismatic conventions. A find for the quality conscious collector and worthy of the strongest bids. In the period from about 1832 to 1844, when Charles Beck distributed his Beck's Public Baths tokens in Richmond, Virginia, bathing was an occasional experience at best. Houses did not have indoor plumbing, and for most people in the city the closest thing to a bath was wiping with a soapy wet cloth. Across the country, some academies and boarding schools made it an offense to bathe in the colder months, the practice being deemed unhealthy. For those who desired to bathe, public baths were operated in most of the larger cities. Under the listing for W.A. Handy of Providence, Rhode Island, above, it is noted that City Baths in 1834 occupied the premises earlier used by Handy for his tailoring and clothing business. Records show that in 1832, Charles Beck was a confectioner and the operator of a bathing facility. The baths were in operation until at least 1844. These tokens, about the size of a quarter dollar, may have circulated locally as currency, or, more likely, they were used as admission checks. The dies are by James Bale or Bale & Smith of New York City. With its somewhat risqué depiction of a nude woman, this token is a favorite today, just as it was with collectors of the mid-19th century. In his now-classic 1998 book, American Numismatics Before the Civil War, Dave Bowers included this letter from J. Ledyard Hodge of Philadelphia to Robert Alonzo Brock of Richmond, reflecting that a Beck's token was a great object of desire 160 years ago: No. 611 Walnut Street October 17, 1859. R. Alonzo Brock Esq. Dear Sir, I have your favor of the 11th inst. with the enclosed card of Beck's Baths, for which I am much indebted. I enclose you herewith two pieces of a series first issued here-and which I think will be scarce. There are 100 of each variety in copper and 50 in white metal, and the dies are ground down so there cannot possibly be any more. Besides the two varieties I enclose there is another, made by the head of Washington and reverse of the wreath with the words PRO PATRIA, thus making six pieces in the set counting the white metal. They are issued at 25 cts. apiece. Most of us here have secured several duplicate sets for future use in exchanging etc. as they will soon be quite scarce. If you wish any sets at the above rates, and will inform me how many I will try and procure you the amount of your remittance. Please answer if you wish any at once, as this taking of five or six sets apiece by collectors will soon use up the whole especially the white metal of which I said there are only 50 of each kind. I am much obliged for your offer of assistance as regards the "Cents." The only ones I want are the 1793 Liberty Cap, 1799, and a good 1804. I have a poor one of that date. There are a good many new pieces, store cards, etc., coming out here just now, and if you are forming a collection of them, I think I can pick you up several. Yr's very truly, J. Ledyard Hodge Provenance: Ex our (Bowers & Merena's) sale of the Gilbert Steinberg Collection, November 2002, lot 5469; our (Stack's) sale of the Collections of James E. Dice & M. Lamar Hicks, July 2008, lot 3285. The plate token for the variety in the 2015 Whitman Guide Book of Hard Times Tokensby Q. David Bowers. Collector tag with attribution and provenance notes included.