This token was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut during the early 20th century. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including commemorative tokens.
Obverse: Bust of James Buchanan facing right. Legend: 15TH PRESIDENT, U.S.A. 1857-1861/ JAMES BUCHANAN.
Reverse: Legend: "OLD BUCK"/ "OLD PUBLIC FUNCTIONARY"/ PRIVATE IN WAR OF 1812/ CONGRESSMAN/ UNITED STATES SENATOR/ SECRETARY OF STATE/ MINISTER OF ENGLAND/ TRIED TO AVERT CIVIL WAR BUT BELIEVED IN STATE RIGHTS.
