Hard Times Token - Van Buren / Webster Ship token

Hard Times Token - Van Buren / Webster Ship token - obverseHard Times Token - Van Buren / Webster Ship token - reverse

© ECapoe

Features

Location United States
Type Promotional items › Campaign token
Year 1841
Value 1 Cent (0.01 USD)
Currency Dollar (1785-date)
Composition Copper
Weight 9.79 g
Diameter 28.5 mm
Shape Round
Technique Milled
Orientation Coin alignment ↑↓
Demonetized Yes
Number
N#
32614
References HT# 20
Russell Rulau, Lyman H. Low; 1996. Hard Times Tokens (6th edition). Krause Publications, Iola, Wisconsin, United States.

Obverse

Ship wrecked on rocks, word "experiment" written on the hull.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
VAN BUREN
METALLIC 1837 CURRENT
EXPERIMENT

Reverse

3 masted ship with "constitution" on the hull sailing on smooth seas.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
WEBSTER
CREDIT 1841 CURRENT
CONSTITUTION

Edge

Plain

Mint

Scovill Manufacturing Company, Waterbury (Connecticut), United States (1802-date)

Comments

This token was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut, anticipating the election of 1840 in which it was presumed Webster would win and become president. It turned out that W. H. Harrison opposed Van Buren and became president in 1841.
This “hard times token” was made after the United States’ economic depression, panic of 1837, and related to Van Buren's projects for reforming the banking system. Van Buren was the 8th US president.
HT-20 is distinguished from the other Van Buren / Webster ship tokens by having CURRENT on both the obverse and reverse. Also on the reverse, HT-20 has the ocean touching IT of CREDIT and the pennant ends below the center of the R in WEBSTER.

See also

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Date VG F VF XF AU UNC
1841  Actually before 1841

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This index is based on the data of Numista members collections. It ranges from 0 to 100, 0 meaning a very common coin or banknote and 100 meaning a rare coin or banknote among Numista members.

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