1837 Feuchtwanger Cent, CACG MS64
This cent token is listed in the Hard Times series as HT-268. The Feuchtwanger 'composition' is a copper-nickel-zinc alloy called agentan or German silver. Lewis Feuchtwanger used this alloy to produce private tokens that he marketed to the US Congress as cheaper to produce and a less clunky option to large cents being produced in the mid-1830's. This was likely the first attempt to switch to Ni-alloy coinage in the US. He did not succeed with Congress, but issued the tokens for circulation during the Hard Times as change out his New York pharmacy. He produced both 1 cent and 3 cent tokens using a variety of dies. The 1 cent pieces, as the one here, are more common than the 3 cent pieces, if the word common can even be used. These are actually quite uncommon, and coming in MS grades with uber eye appeal, we would call rare. This is die variety 3E (≥12 varieties indentified) that is considered to be R3. CAC/CACG has stickered or certified 84 Feuchtwanger cents, including 15 in 64, 14 in 65, and 5 in 66. This is the only one in a CACG slab within that grade range as the rest are CAC stickered (7/24). The gorgeous amber toning gives this one super eye appeal as most are shades grey today, even in MS grades. These just are not offered in this quality often.
CACG Cert. # 883066272