Hard Times Merchant Token – James Watson Hardware and Cutlery Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ND

Reverse

Saw in center, AND on its face, merchandise sold above and below. There are 6 pointed stars to the left and right of the saw as part of the surrounding legend.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
✶IMPORTERS AND DEALERS✶ IN FOREIGN & DOMESTIC
HARDWARE AND CUTLERY

Edge

Reeded

Comment

James Watson was born in Delaware in 1793 and had moved to Philadelphia by 1817. He was listed in Philadelphia directories from 1820 to 1867. He was a watchmaker and also sold clocks, hardware, and jewelry. He sold coin silver cutlery stamped with his maker’s mark. Per Rulau, “Scovill Mfg. Co. Waterbury Connecticut received an order for “gilt counters” from James Watson on March 2, 1835.” He died April 7, 1882, at his son’s home in Camden, New Jersey and was buried in Philadelphia.

James Watson’s maker’s mark on a coin silver spoon. c. tpal1961

The National Gazette and Literary Register, Philadelphia, 7 April 1835
The reverse of HT-422 has a star on each side of the saw as part of the legend. The reverses of Watson’s other Hard Times tokens HT-421 and HT-421A have a dot on each side of the saw. The obverse designs of both HT-421 and 422 are identical with an anvil and stars. These identifications were confirmed via personal communication with Alan Scott Fisher of hardtimestokens.com, several NGC graded examples and Heritage Auctions.
Both Russell Rulau and Q. David Bowers in their Hard Times Token books mistakenly refer to either stars or dots being on the sides of the obverse anvil. They also are unclear as to which variety has stars and which has dots. HT-422 is R-5 with 31-75 known.