Hard Times Token - Robert B. Ruggles, Gold Beater New York, NY ND
| Copper | 11.15 g | 28.5 mm |
| Location | United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Medals › Advertising medallions |
| Years | 1835-1838 |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 11.15 g |
| Diameter | 28.5 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Demonetized | Yes |
| Updated | 2024-11-13 |
| Numista | N#321440 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 100% |
Reverse
Legend with 2 small 4 leaf clovers.
Script: Latin
Lettering:
GOLD & SILVER LEAF, GOLD & SILVER BRONZE
DENTISTS GOLD
AND TIN FOIL,
WHOLESALE
AND RETAIL.
Edge
Plain
Comment
HT-307 has no BALE N.Y. on the bottom of the obverse which HT-308 has. HT-307 has dentils on both sides, while HT-308 has no dentils.Robert Bostwick Ruggles (1802-1857) was listed in the Manhattan NYC Directory 1829-30 as a Gold Beater and that was still his profession in the 1850 census where he was reported to own real estate of $10,000 in value. The muscled arm holding a hammer on the obverse could well have been his.
A Gold Beater would start with a slab of gold. It was covered by the large intestine of an ox to give it protection. Then, hammering it over a granite or marble block up to 70 times a minute for hours it was made into an extremely thin leaf. Gilding included carefully gluing the small gold leaves onto the surface of the object to be gilt. Ruggles also worked with other metals.
