NEW YORKE BRASS TOKEN AU50

Though the New Yorke Brass Token is undated, it is speculated that these rare and private location coins were struck from 1670-1673. During this time New York saw a change in the colonizing country. For many years prior to 1688 and for several years after 1673, the Dutch owned the formally named New Netherland colony. However, James, Duke of York England, appointed Francis Lovelace as governor of New York.

As with many state coins minted in the United States during the pre-declaration period, it is said that these too were an early form of protest against English rule. The New York token, speculated to be designed by the governor himself, bears the Lovelace family arms on the obverse while Cupid and Psyche are seen on the reverse. Mint was short lived for these New York Tokens as the Dutch launched an attack on Fort James in 1673. After Lovelace’s deputy surrendered the fort to the Dutch, Lovelace was arrested for abandonment and New York was ruled again by the Dutch.