A new addition to my Hard Times Token Collection HT-30 Brass Gulian Verplanck

coinsarefun

I have been on the lookout for an example and when they do come available they sure do come expensive.
This is a pretty nice AU example and looks wonderful in my collection.

I was browsing through the American Journal of Numismatics and ran upon this article written in 1898 that describes and speaks about this token so perfectly, there is nothing much to add.

Link to article here

A few brief years will pass away and with them almost every trace of the existence of the whig party That party however in the pride of its power and confidence of its success adopted the same plan for perpetuating its name that has been adopted by kings and princes The story of their accession and their continuance in power is told by the coins and medals circulated during their reigns We have in our possession a coin of the grand whig emission of 1834.
On one side is an eagle surrounded by the words a faithful friend to our country and on the other an image surrounded by the words Gulian C Verplanck our next Governor.

It is made most appropriately of brass symbolical of the modesty of the party by which it was issued What a treasure will such a coin be to the antiquary a hundred years hence How will he pore over its image and superscription and puzzle himself with most learned doubts as to its history and character At what epoch of the republic was it issued
What great event was it intended to commemorate and who was the great man whose name otherwise unrecorded it has preserved for a hundred years It speaks of Gulian C Verplanck our next governor.
He was probably the governor elect The people had chosen him but he had not yet entered upon the duties of his office Why should a coin be struck off with his name and head on it In all other countries it is the possessor and not the heir to the throne whose effigy is stamped on the coin of the value realm In looking over the almost interminable list of governors of the different States the name of Gulian C Verplanck can not be found.

Most unfortunately the coin bears no date and for aught that appears to the contrary it might have been issued anterior to the revolution

You cannot refer it to cotemporary history for the simple reason that you have no means of judging when it was issued It is valuable because it is rare and because from its most incomprehensible character it will constantly call forth the discussions of antiquaries and virtuosi It may be that in the wreck of matter of a hundred years a few files of very old newspapers may survive.

Possibly the very paper containing this article may chance to have a better fate than its brethren and furnish an addition to some collection of old and perhaps good for nothing trumpery Here then will be a key to unlock the mystery and the quid nuncs of a hundred years hence will learn that in 1834 there flourished a mighty party called the great universal whig party of the world a party which lived and flourished on anticipation celebrated victories which were to be won but never were won rejoiced over successes which like the waters near the lips of Tantalus were ever at hand but never reached and struck medals in honor of governors who were never elected We will mention by way of conclusion that the Verplanck Coinage of 1834 is becoming scarce The pieces are at a premium even now the knowing ones among the Whigs having called in all they could possibly command.

Now for my new token HT-30 Brass Gulian Verplanck PCGS AU58

My image I took today......somewhere in between the two, not as dark as the true view. Almost as bright as my picture..
I hope you enjoy.

ricko

Very nice...Thanks for the history and pictures Stef.... Cheers, RickO

johnny9434

I AGREE WITH ricko, that is a nice history. neat pics to.

Zoins

Here's a history of Gulian Crommelin Verplanck's political career from Wikipedia. Perhaps the times coincident to the issuance of HTTs would be times when this could have been struck.

Do we know who made this token?

Political career
Verplanck was elected as a member of the New York State Assembly in 1820–21, 1822 and 1823. He was elected as a Jacksonian to the 19th, 20th, and as a Democrat to the 21st and 22nd United States Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1825, to March 3, 1833. He was Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means (22nd Congress).[2] While there one of his leading acts was to secure the extension of the period of copyrights.[4] In 1833, when President Andrew Jackson began his quest to suppress the Second Bank of the United States, Verplanck left the Democrats.
In April 1834, at the first popular election for Mayor of New York City, Verplanck was the candidate of the emerging Whig Party but was narrowly defeated (sources range from 181 to 213 votes) by Cornelius Van Wyck Lawrence.[5] Afterwards Verplanck kept his own counsel in politics and supported William Henry Harrison (Whig), James K. Polk (Dem.), Zachary Taylor (Whig) and James Buchanan (Dem.) for President, remaining a Democrat thereafter.
Verplanck was a member of the New York State Senate (1st D.) from 1838 to 1841, sitting in the 61st, 62nd, 63rd and 64th New York State Legislatures.
He was appointed as the President of the Board of Commissioners of Immigration, serving from 1846 until his death in 1870. He was a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1867-68.

ricko

Thanks for the additional history Zoins... Cheers, RickO

Broadstruck

Glad you got it as although they are available most seen in low graded which are cleaned, holed, have graffiti, overly spotted or stained, or are corroded.

Here's mine which is the finest known, it still shows the reverse central striking weakness seen on all.

etexmike

Nice article. Congrats on the addition.

Mike

DDR

Very cool. I have a pair but they are like many, low grade, spotted and stained.

coinsarefun

Thanks to all who posted for the nice comments and extra history/background.

Broadstruck.......yours looks amazing!

DCW

Nice token, Stef! And a great write up