Token - John T. Waterhouse Early Hawaiian Issue ND

Reverse

Beehive

Script: Latin

Lettering: John Thomas Waterhouse Importer Hale Maikia

Edge

Reeded

Comment

TOKEN Waterhouse M. 2TE-1. John T. Waterhouse opened an import (mostly dry goods) business in Honolulu , Hawaii in 1851. It is believed that he issued the first tokens in the islands, circa 1855-1860. These large white metal pieces feature the likeness of King Kamehameha III, but the inscription reads Kamehameha IV. It seems likely that the token was designed during the reign of the first monarch, but only issued after his nephew assumed the throne in 1855. Changing the inscription was a simple matter, but changing the bust would have been problematic.