This mornings find: Slave Auction Token

[Ed (Upstate NY)]

This morning's find: Slave Auction Token

Got in a quick hunt this morning before the rain moved in. In an area close to where I dug a 1857 half dime earlier this week I got a deep hit that sounded worth digging. Down nearly 10 inches I pulled out what I thought was a large cent. After rubbing off some dirt I could see it was probably a hard times token. Turns out it was a token for a slave auctioneer in Charleston, South Carolina. W.W. Wilbur Auctions and Commission Merchant dated 1846. Nice early token. Wonder how it ended up here in NY? I checked eBay and there is one going for $111.00 with a couple hours left in the auction. That was the only good coin I dug. Been pounding that park pretty hard and the finds are getting scarcer.

 

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[jewelerguy]

very cool token!

 

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Ed
Nice save,and piece of history !
Gary

 

[grasshopper]

Nice find Ed. I hope retirement is treating you well.

 

[TNGUNS]

Incredible history to that piece. I can't imagine the value being as low as the one on Ebay. Can honestly say that I consider it "BANNER" find and I do not say that lightly. A glimpse from a time in our history that is hard to actually wrap your head around. Congrats is kind of lame on that one.

Got my Banner vote.

 

[BullBat]

Good piece on the tokens of W.W. Wilbur: ( The Tokens of W.W. Wilbur of Charleston, S.C. )

 

[Ahab8]

Ed that's a fantastic find that reminds us of a very dark time in American history. Good to have a reminder once in a while. You sure seem to make your hunts count my friend

 

[treblehunter]

Sweet token, I'd love to find that!

 

[qaela4]

Great find! If only it could talk, the history you would hear.

 

[CoinandRelicMan]

Great rare token find there !! One of the most interesting tokens I have seen posted here.

 

[Agent Green]

Awesome token, what a rare find, congrats..

 

[RelicDude]

You don't see these everyday. That's an amazing find and is worthy of the banner you have my vote.

Sent from my iPod touch using TreasureNet

 

[Bulldog1948]

I also vote Banner

 

[charr45]

Very cool find

 

[rodarian]

I also live in the capital region. The little town i live in has a rich history of the underground railroad. It's said that anyone that made it to this town was never caught and returned to slavery. Awesome find.

 

[coinz]

very cool find indeed, other w.w.wilber tokens are on page 322 april 19 2013 slave auctioneers token and also page 527 under w.w.wilber slave token. keep the great finds coming. coinz

 

[DigIron2]

that is up there with the slave tags imo.nice and rare find

 

[Ron (CA)]

Very Nice! Congrats!

 

[Jyverb64]

Nice token, certainly an interesting piece of history

 

[Tnmountains]

The North also imported slaves, as well as transporting and selling them in the south and abroad. While the majority of enslaved Africans arrived in southern ports–Charleston, South Carolina was the largest market for slave traders, including the DeWolfs—most large colonial ports served as points of entry, and Africans were sold in northern ports including Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Newport, Rhode Island.

New York as many states did, had a long dark history with slavery. That all being said what a interesting piece of history you found.