NGC-certified Token Realizes $40,800 in Partrick Sale

A rare anti-slavery token certified by Numismatic Guaranty Corporation® (NGC®) realized $40,800 to top a sale of tokens from the Donald G. Partrick Collection. Held December 6, 2020, the Heritage Auctions sale realized nearly $1 million from the 811 lots in the sale. Nearly all the lots were certified — including the top 70 individual tokens — and all the certification was done by NGC.

Leading the way was an 1838 Am I Not A Man & A Brother (Low-54A, HT-82) token graded NGC AU 53 BN. The obverse depicts a kneeling man in chains with the words AM I NOT A MAN & A BROTHER, while the reverse features a wreath reminiscent of the US Mint-issued cents in circulation at the time.

1838 Am I Not A Man & A Brother (Low-54A, HT-82) token graded NGC AU 53. Realized $40,800 Click images to enlarge.

The sale brings the Partrick Collection to more than $28 million realized, including nearly $26 million at Heritage Auctions’ January 2015 FUN Show sale and $1.3 million at a sale of Connecticut Coppers in November 2020. Additional sales are planned in the first half of 2021, including a Platinum Partrick Sale in mid-January that includes two incredibly rare Brasher Doubloons. The full auction schedule is at HA.com/Partrick.

The December 2020 sale featured tokens that were nearly all from the early and middle 19th century, including Hard Times tokens, which were used as an unofficial currency when Americans were hoarding US coins. Some tokens advertised businesses, while others carried a political message.

Additional NGC-certified highlights from the sale included:

• an 1837 New York Feuchtwanger’s Composition Three Cent Piece (HT-265) graded NGC MS 65 DPL, also pedigreed to the Miller Collection, that realized $28,800
• an (1835-36) Philadelphia Corporation (HT-412) One Shilling token graded NGC XF 45 that realized $26,400
• an (1811-15) Near Orleans, Louisiana Planters Bank Token on a quarter of a Spanish 8 Reales (HT-A126) graded NGC AU 56, also pedigreed to the Norweb Collection, that realized $21,600
• an 1837 American Silver (HT-74 GS) token graded NGC AU Details that realized $18,000
• an 1836 St. Louis, MO Huckel Burrows & Jennings (HT-187) token graded NGC MS 62, also pedigreed to the Miller Collection, that realized $16,800
• an (1835) Taunton, Massaschusetts John J. Adams token (HT-181B) graded NGC VF 30, also pedigreed to the Miller Collection, that realized $15,600
• an 1843 Cleveland, Ohio A. Loomis token (HT-379) graded NGC MS 63 BN, also pedigreed to the Miller Collection, that realized $15,000
• an (1832) Andrew Jackson (HT-3) token graded NGC AU 58 BN, also pedigreed to the Brand Collection, that realized $14,400
• an (1834) Andrew Jackson (HT-4) token graded NGC VF 30, that realized $13,200
• an 1844 Batavia, NY Cochran (HT-211) token graded NGC XF 40 BN, also pedigreed to the Miller Collection, that realized $12,000

Prices realized include buyer's premium.