New York, New York. 1868 T.N. Hickcox & Co. Bowers NY-6384. Gilt brass. 34 mm. Choice Mint State.，Obverse: Liberty Head double eagle motif. Reverse: Pale yellow heavy card printed with eight line advertisement, T.N. HICKCOX & CO. / Manufacturers of / STAMPED / BRASS GOODS, / The Celebrated / DOLLAR & EAGLE / Cards, &c. / 280 PEARL ST. N.Y. The shell is superb, featuring full even gilding and a bright satiny finish. The card is clean and undamaged. A very attractive makers card with a neat legend referring to "Dollar & Eagle" cards, though they are actually dollar and double eagle motifs.<p>According to Dave Bowers study on shell cards, T.N. Hickcox & Co. was the most prolific maker and issuer of this trade medium. The firm was also the largest manufacturer of mirror cards, as seen here. Hickcox advertised in the September 1, 1866 issue of <em>Scientific American</em> as follows:<p>"T.N. Hickcox, manufacturer of stamped and pressed brass goods. Plain and fancy brass caps for pomaton and mucilage bottles, brass baggage and key checks, stove ornaments, brass labels for oil cans, house furnishing goods, insurance companies, etc. Steel dies of any design required presses and light machinery manufactured to order. Prompt attention paid to articles of news manufacture and patent goods; models for the Patent Office daily executed. Salesroom 280 Pearl St., N.Y. Factory, corner John an Pearl streets, Brooklyn."<p>As of 1872, he was also advertising the manufacture of corrugated fire-proof roofing shingles, iron gutters, and other items. Shell cards issued by the makers of such cards and advertising themselves are highly important. The present sale is the largest ever auction offering of such.<p>Numismatic items of New York City have been the specialty of a number of advanced collectors over the years, including Wayte Raymond, F.C.C. Boyd, and Richard Rossa, not to overlook the American Numismatic Society (which has the finest institutional collection today; the Massachusetts Historical Society holdings are notable as well). <p><p><p>，Ex David Proskey; F.C.C. Boyd; John J. Ford, Jr., May 1983; Steve Tanenbaum, 2011; Q. David Bowers Collection.，
