FEUCHTWANGER, Lewis (1805-1876) Bavarian-American amateur metallurgist, dentist.
Born Furth, Bavaria, 11 January 1805. Came to America.
Proposed a nickel-silver alloy as a coinage metal; it
contained copper, nickel, zinc, tin, antimony and other
metal elements. He called it "argentan" or "American silver"
(in contrast to German silver) – none of which contained
silver. The Mint wisely refused because of the multiplicity of
components (This would have been a scrap technology
nightmare.) However, they later did strike copper-nickel cents,
1856-65, which was not entirely satisfactory, but an altered
alloy was satisfactory for five-cent pieces, 1865 onwards.
Feuchtwanger designed and issued storecards in his own
composition, all struck at Scovill, Waterbury. It is assumed
the dies were cut by Scovill factory artists.
Died New York City, 25 June 1876.
T O K E N S
18xx New York City Feuchtwanger Token . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HT 261
Aucions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PCA 81:9
18xx New York Arms Feuchtwanger Three Cent Token. . .Low 117,
Auction:. . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 73:18, PCA 75:19, PCA 80:35
18xx Feuchtwanger Three Cent Token. . . . . . . . . HT 263, Low 118
Auction:. . . . . . . . . . . . ..PCA 72:85, PCA 75:20. PCA 80:36
18xx Feuchtwanger Three Cent Token. . . . . . . . . HT 265, Low 119
Auction:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 72:86
18xx Feuchtwanger One Cent Token. . . . . . . . . . HT 268, Low 120
Auction:. . . . . . .PCA 72:87-93, PCA 73:19, PCA 75:21-23,
PCA 80:37-42, PCA 81:610, PCA 84:31-32
S T O R E C A R D
186x Feuchtwanger (Lewis) New York City Dentist
Storecard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low 247, HT 260
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . CA 73:46, PCA 81:8, PCA 84:36-37
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 7:299.
P2 {1913} Adams (Edgar H.) Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger, The Numismatist 26:6
(June 1913) p 297-302 [portrait p 297]. Reprinted Carlson (Carl W.A.) and Hodder (Michael)
The American Numismatic Association Centennial Anthology, Colorado Springs: ANA (1991) p 226-231.
O12 {1988} Breen, 215.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 86.
N36 {2002} Bowers, More Adventures, "Dr. Feuchtwanter and His 1837 'Silver Penny,'" p 95-131.
M57 {2007} Jaeger (Katherine) and Bowers (Q. David) 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens. 1837
Feuchtwanger Tokens listed as #4, p 8-9; American 25-cent Token listed as #116, in second 100, p 112.
Born Furth, Bavaria, 11 January 1805. Came to America.
Proposed a nickel-silver alloy as a coinage metal; it
contained copper, nickel, zinc, tin, antimony and other
metal elements. He called it "argentan" or "American silver"
(in contrast to German silver) – none of which contained
silver. The Mint wisely refused because of the multiplicity of
components (This would have been a scrap technology
nightmare.) However, they later did strike copper-nickel cents,
1856-65, which was not entirely satisfactory, but an altered
alloy was satisfactory for five-cent pieces, 1865 onwards.
Feuchtwanger designed and issued storecards in his own
composition, all struck at Scovill, Waterbury. It is assumed
the dies were cut by Scovill factory artists.
Died New York City, 25 June 1876.
T O K E N S
18xx New York City Feuchtwanger Token . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HT 261
Aucions:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PCA 81:9
18xx New York Arms Feuchtwanger Three Cent Token. . .Low 117,
Auction:. . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 73:18, PCA 75:19, PCA 80:35
18xx Feuchtwanger Three Cent Token. . . . . . . . . HT 263, Low 118
Auction:. . . . . . . . . . . . ..PCA 72:85, PCA 75:20. PCA 80:36
18xx Feuchtwanger Three Cent Token. . . . . . . . . HT 265, Low 119
Auction:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCA 72:86
18xx Feuchtwanger One Cent Token. . . . . . . . . . HT 268, Low 120
Auction:. . . . . . .PCA 72:87-93, PCA 73:19, PCA 75:21-23,
PCA 80:37-42, PCA 81:610, PCA 84:31-32
S T O R E C A R D
186x Feuchtwanger (Lewis) New York City Dentist
Storecard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Low 247, HT 260
Auctions:. . . . . . . . . . . CA 73:46, PCA 81:8, PCA 84:36-37
N U M I S M A T I C R E F E R E N C E S
E3 {1902-30} Forrer 7:299.
P2 {1913} Adams (Edgar H.) Dr. Lewis Feuchtwanger, The Numismatist 26:6
(June 1913) p 297-302 [portrait p 297]. Reprinted Carlson (Carl W.A.) and Hodder (Michael)
The American Numismatic Association Centennial Anthology, Colorado Springs: ANA (1991) p 226-231.
O12 {1988} Breen, 215.
N31 {1992} Smith. American Numismatic Biographies, p 86.
N36 {2002} Bowers, More Adventures, "Dr. Feuchtwanter and His 1837 'Silver Penny,'" p 95-131.
M57 {2007} Jaeger (Katherine) and Bowers (Q. David) 100 Greatest American Medals and Tokens. 1837
Feuchtwanger Tokens listed as #4, p 8-9; American 25-cent Token listed as #116, in second 100, p 112.