What The Experts Say...

HT 104, Low 109.
This firm was an issuer of Hard Times tokens for other merchants. In the 1845 to 1847 period, they were particularly prolific manufacturers of merchants’ store cards. Interestingly, in 1887, the firm supplied the US Mint with 20,000 pounds of planchets for the striking of the nickel five cent pieces.

(H. Joseph Levine, PCAC, The Charles Litman Collection, December 6, 2003)

The store card of Benedict & Burnham of Waterbury, Conn. The firm was a creator of Hard Times tokens for other merchants. In later years, especially circa 1845-1857, the company produced a number of store cards for various merchants. In 1887 the firm supplied the U.S government with 20,000 pounds of planchets for the striking of copper-nickel 5-cent pieces.

Aaron Benedict and Joseph Burton started manufacturing bone and ivory buttons in Waterbury in 1812. Under the name A. Benedict a reorganized firm in 1823 began making gilt buttons. Benedict & Coe succeeded in 1829, and sheet brass manufacture was added. In 1834 it became Benedict & Burnham (Aaron Benedict, Gordon W. Burdnham, Bennet Bronson, Alfred PLatt PLatt and others), and copper, zinc and nickel alloys were added.

On Jan. 14, 1843, the girm became Benedict & Burnham Mfg. Co. In 1895 Benedict & Burnham absorbed Holms, Booth, & Haydens Co. (Organized 1853), another early token issuer of Waterbury.

(Rulau 9th Edition)