Help with Token?

[BuckleBoy]

I must request your patience as I get my digital camera going (I'll also have a few more things for this area of the forum eventually).

I recently found a token (It isn't copper, but it might be made of nickel or an alloy) bearing the words "ONE DRACHM" across the top, "H.T.PHILI" across the bottom, and a big "3 i" in the center. (obverse and reverse identical) The coin is exactly the same size as a modern cent.

The find was unearthed at a Civil War encampment in Kentucky, but I suspect that the token dates from much later. I even found a few wheats from the teens mixed in with the bullets and piece of a cavalry spur, so this is not unthinkable. Any ideas?

I thought this might be related to a medical company or pharmacy. I seem to recall old medicine bottle "sizes" bearing different " i " markings on them.

 

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[diggummup]

I am not positive about how old it is.I can tell you that I think it is a pharmacist's apothecary weight.1 DRACHM(DRAM) is equal to 3 Scruples.Probably early 20th cent. or before.Does it look like this?---the round one?------

 

[PBK]

First, welcome aboard!

Diggummup is right on target: the item that you found is actually an apothecary weight, one of a set of various sizes made for the old balance-type scales used by pharmacists.

H. T. is Henry Troemner of Phialdelphia, long a major manufacturer of such weights.

Apothecary weights are difficult to date since the same designs remained in use from about the mid 19th to mid 20th century, when electronic scales began to replace balances.

You can see a few more examples at:

http://users.pullman.com/fjstevens/tokens/weights/index.html

Also, here's a page with apothecary weights & symbols, just in case that might be of interest:

http://albumen.stanford.edu/library/monographs/sunbeam/chap45.html

Diggummup, didn't mean to tag onto you, but since I'd already typed up this info when I saw your post come up, I figured I might as well toss it in anyway.

 

[diggummup]

Not a problem master.I am only a humble student in your class.

 

[PBK]

Not a problem master.I am only a humble student in your class.

Hey, Grasshopper... I think you grabbed the pebble out of my hand— if I ever had a pebble — long ago!

As I've said before:

Everybody knows something.
Nobody knows much.
We're all in this together.

 

[BuckleBoy]

The only discrepancy I notice is that all the examples below appear to be made of brass. Mine is definitely not brass or copper. The writing is dead on, though. Thanks for your help!

 

[diggummup]

If you have a coin scale you could weigh it.See if it weighs 3.41 grams or very near that,then you'll know for sure.Welcome to Treasurenet by the way Buckleboy.PBK- The wife says I know a little bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing. -diggummup

 

[PBK]

The wife says I know a little bit of everything and a whole lot of nothing. -diggummup

My mom said, "Your son thinks he's a real wit."

My dad said, "Well, honey, you've got to admit the boy's just about half right!"

 

[diggummup]

That's a good one! I'll have to remember that!

 

[BuckleBoy]

Thanks for the welcome, diggum. I weighed it. 3.40 grams. Right on! When I get this digital camera going, I'll get some pics going...maybe later in the week.