Q.  1/19/2008   I am in possession of a coin from the Bergen Iron Works dated early 1830's.  An elderly man in our Church left his household belongings to the Church youth when he passed away and the coin was found in a jar of everyday pennies.  We kept the coin separate in order to investigate.  We don't know if he had it for days, years, a lifetime.  How common are these coins and how often do they surface?  Do they have any value?  If so, we would be willing to sell it to benefit our Youth Mission Fund....(with check being made directly to them).  I have read the information on your site and have learned that Mr. Brick was an apprentice in the iron industry under Jesse Richards at Batsto.  He even rose to the title of Clerk of the works for Batsto Village at the General Store.  We are actually within 7 miles of Batsto and it may explain why the coin is here ( ? )  Any information that you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated.   A. As to why Bergen Iron Works issued it's own coins. In 1836, President Andrew Jackson issued his  order called "Specie Circular" which closed the Federal Bank and forced the use of hard currency  in place of paper money. US citizens began to horde their coins forcing businesses to make tokens or coins during this period 1836-1842, so Joseph Brick in order to pay his workers, etc. produced the coin that you possess.