Hard Times Merchant Token - James Watson Hardware Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ND

Reverse

Saw in center, AND on its face, merchandise sold above and below. There are dots 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 either alone or in partnerships from 1820 to 1867. He was a watchmaker and also sold clocks, hardware, guns, and jewelry. He sold coin silver cutlery stamped with his maker’s mark. In early 1835 when he ordered his tokens to be made, he had no business partners. At a town meeting around the same time, he was among those appointed to collect donations for the poor. In 1849 burglars climbed through the skylight and robbed the large and beautiful jewelry establishment of Watson & Hildeburn of $20,000 in property (equal to $794,000 today). 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

Philadelphia Enquirer, 8 May 1835

HT-421 is brass and R-4 (76-200 known), HT-421A is gilt brass and R-5 (31-75 known), and HT-421B of bronze is very rare and possibly unique. Their reverses all have a dot on each side of the saw as part of the legend. The reverse of Watson’s other Hard Times token HT-422 has a star 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, 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.