Hard Times Merchant Token - Randall and Co Baltimore, Maryland ND

Reverse

Rosette upper half below MONUMENT

Script: Latin

Lettering: MONUMENT RANDALL & CO BALT SQUARE

Edge

Reeded

Comment

Dudley A. Randall was born around 1806 and died 1881 in Baltimore. His business sold carbonated and sweetened mineral water, both bottled and from a fountain, which was a predecessor to our present-day soda pops. They were in the basement of Barnum’s City Hotel located on Monument Square. The token is about the size of a US half-dime.
The Baltimore Sun, 6 April 1840

The obverse shows the Battle Monument which honors those who died September 12-14, 1814; during the British attack on Fort McHenry and Baltimore. It was completed in 1824 and still stands in Monument Square.
Photo by Lanny Miyamoto 1958, US Library of Congress