Storecard Love Token - S. B. Underill Carriage Maker Chenango Forks NY On An 1856 Seated Half Dollar

This is a cool piece, being quite ornate and artfully executed. It's fully attributed, giving the name, location and occupation to boot. They don't get much better than this. The host coin is pleasing, as well. Half dollar hosts are less common than the lower denominations. Typically, pieces like this were presented as gifts, and this piece may have served as a watch fob; prior to being plugged, that is.

Samuel B. Underhill appeared in the 1867 NY State Business Directory as a carriage maker and wheelwright. In 1877, he was elected President of Kelly's Lamp Works in Rochester. This company produced lamps for carriages. He was in the carriage business with one Theodore B. Osborne at 192 Fulton Street in Brooklyn in 1880.

Here's a link that illustrates one of Samuel's lamps: https://www.proxibid.com/Art-Antiqu...ion/49013984

My guess is that this love token dates into the 1870's or 80's; this, given but moderate wear on the obverse of the 1856 half. More info on Samuel can likely be found in contemporary newspapers. Here's a great NY newspaper website that's FREE: https://www.fultonhistory.com/Fulton.html

Thank you for the information everyone! It is very helpful. I have also emailed the county historian already of Broome County, New York (Where Chenango Forks is located.)

@ExoGuy, is it normal for the person's name to be misspelled? It looks like on the coin it is spelled 'S.B. Underill, and is missing the letter 'h'. Hopefully I am not blind .

I was able to find the lamp patent when doing my research originally. I will definitely check out that link and see what I can find!

My initial thought is that, speaking numismatics, nothing is normal. That's what I find most intriguing about this hobby. Anomalies abound!

I've seen an occasional counterstamp wherein there was a misspelling. I don't recall ever seeing a love token with same. It looks to me like the engraver ran out of room for Underhill. He'd already engraved the periphery and rather than start over, he "fudged" the surname. This abbreviated, phonetic spelling would be how an Englishman would utter "Under-ill" with a silent H. Maybe the engraver was British?

Oftentimes, one can find patent drawings and print them out. I've occasionally done that to create "go-alongs" for c/s's. I've also occasionally purchased products related to particular c/s's. Consider, Ploopy, acquiring an Underhill lamp, perhaps? I'd skip buying one of his carriages though!

I agree with the FB opinion .... That's likely the guy. The love token was probably a birthday gift in his later years.

Underil might simply be a phonetic spelling. If Underhill emigrated from the British Isles, that may be how he pronounced his name, with a silent "h."