Can any one identify coin or token?

Comments

• Julian Posts: 3,370 ✭✭✭

  February 25, 2006 5:40AM

  It is a Hard Times Token. Most are worth $10-20. Hope this helps.

  PNG member, numismatic dealer since 1965. Operates a retail store, also has exhibited at over 1000 shows.
  I firmly believe in numismatics as the world's greatest hobby, but recognize that this is a luxury and without collectors, we can all spend/melt our collections/inventories.
  
  eBaystore

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• MrSpud Posts: 4,499 ✭✭✭

  February 25, 2006 5:41AM

  Sounds like a Hard Times Token. I remember seing that design before.

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• Oldnewbie Posts: 1,425 ✭✭

  February 25, 2006 5:43AM

  Here's one for sale on ebay. (not mine)
  
  Link

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• Conder101 Posts: 10,536 ✭

  February 25, 2006 4:12PM

  Yep, Hard Times token, comes in four different varieties Low 17, 18, 19, and 20. Differences come from different dies used on the Donkey side. Dies can be told apart by the palcement of the donkey's ears relative to the inscription.
  
  Hard times tokens came about during a period of economic depression. Part of the reason for this was the failure of the nations banking system, which leads us to this token.
  
  This would be considered an Anti-Jackson token. The chest is labeled Sub-Treasury which refers the Jackson efforts to kill the Bank of the United States by transfering Federal monies from the Bank to small state banks or "sub-treasuries" around the country. This sub treasury is shown on the back of a turtle, the "fiscal agent" as a statement that this resulted in a system that was too slow to react to changes in the economy. This sub treasury plan was Jackson's "Executive Experiment". The other side is a reference to a quote made by Martin Van Buren at his inaugeration "I follow in the steps of my illustrious predecessor.". So Van Buren is depicted as another Jackass. (The Jackass was a commonly used symbol for Jackson by his detractors because of the similarity of the word to his name, the personal insult, and because of Jackson famous stubbornness when he didn't get his way.)

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