Hard Times Tokens - Post Your Images

[BROADSTRUCK]

[Hard Times]

Stunning Broadie - got an large image of the other side as well?

 

Best, HT

[BROADSTRUCK]

Stunning Broadie - got an large image of the other side as well? Best, HT

 

Thanks HT, Here's the reverse

 

[Hard Times]

C'est tres bon Monsieur Broadie!

[BROADSTRUCK]

I'm in the process of deleting some photo's I've saved on my PC's desktop and the following two tokens posted below sold on Ebay in recent months which left me scratching my head

 

Both sold for multiples of what they are actually worth -

 

Top: 1841 Webster HT-20 / Low-62 above sold for nearly $160.00 plus shipping and based upon condition is about a $8.00 token.

 

Bottom: 1837 May Tenth HT-65 / Low-40 was listed for a couple years for $375.00 BIN OBO which sold for $325.00 and based on condition is about a $20.00 token.

 

That being said with the 60,000+ views this thread has received... If your interest has been sparked to purchase a HTT and your unsure please feel free to contact myself or any of the other regular members in this thread prior to getting financially buried.

 

 

[Hard Times]

No way, is this really possible Broadie?

 

Best, HT

[BROADSTRUCK]

No way, is this really possible Broadie? Best, HT

 

The HT-65 listing is still active in the sold archives.

[BROADSTRUCK]

1850's Currier & Greeley Tea & Coffee Merchant Store Card Token, Boston Massachusetts, Miller MA-30, Unique R.9 Scovill Manufacturing Uniface Die Trail, Copper, 28mm Diameter.

 

I know it's a bit early to call this my neatest newp for 2013, but it sure is in the running. The token that this was used for is pretty scarce and I have not been able to locate an image of the Currier & Greeley obverse design with a Eagle as it's never been plated. Researching all major exonumia auction catalogs back to the late 1960's I haven’t been able to trace a single example. These have been mentioned in type as early as 1859 by Charles Bushnell but then not again until 1920 by Edgar Adams. E. Elliot Woodward in 1880 and 1886 did auction off examples of other unique mulled tokens with this reverse die which may have been special re-strikes done by Scovill for J.N.T. Levick. The Massachusetts Historical Society Museum in 1923 did apparently have a example based on a list of the collection done by their curator. Along with a 1901 The Numismatist article of another different mulled obverse were it was once thought to have been a Hard Times Token. Again none of the other mulled tokens have ever been plated either so I'm just scratching the tip of the iceberg as far as research right now. A more common R-6 1855 Currier & Greeley with a Liberty obverse design stuck on a 27-27.5mm copper planchet can be seen below with examples formally in the Q. David Bowers and Dan Holmes collections which is also unknown above VF condition but based on the wreath and berries it's a completely different cut die.

 

 

 

[BROADSTRUCK]

Accidental Provenance Discovery from the Estate of the Dean of Numismatics.

 

So early this morning I was flipping through Bowers & Merena's Kingswood Galleries 1994 Hanover Sale and recognized a plated token. Oddly enough I've probably flipped through the same catalog a dozen or more times over the years and never notice it. Yet today the small planchet lamination flaw caught my eye and instantly a "hey that's my token" came to mind. So here she is 1838 New York - Am I not a Woman & Sister HT-81 / Low-54 provenance formally unknown now ex: Abe Kosoff. I've owned the token unknowingly for about 4 years and Abe's auction catalog since it was issued. It's a bonus as prior to this morning I never flipped through his auction catalog to even see if there was a hard times token section. Unfortunately the provenance trial ends with Kosoff as no further clues are mentioned, but it's most defiantly a finale I can live with!

 

[Hard Times]

Very nice Broadie!

 

Best, HT

[EXOJUNKIE]

No doubt about that one! Fun discovery ... congrats! (thumbs u

[BROADSTRUCK]

1862 William J. Mullen - Prison Agent, Miller NY-616A.

 

This U.S. Merchant token has never been plated before in any publication and both Donald Miller in 1962 and Russell Rulau to date have had it listed it as William P. Mullen as the son of William J. Mullen. During the Hard Times Era he was a maker of gold watch dials located in New York as shown on his HT-M17 / Low-364 / M-NY616 store card. Both feature the same bust of William J. cut by Louisa Lander and struck by C.C. Wright. Since none have crossed auction Russell Rulau used Donald Millers 1962 valuation in his publication as $75.00 in Fine condition, Miller also considered it Very Rare with no price listed as UNC. Rulau has also had this listed as being 33mm in diameter same as the HT-M17 / Low-364 / M-NY616 however this M-616A measures 36mm in diameter. Both Miller and Rulau also have the location wrong as this should be listed under Pennsylvania Merchants not New York. Also as it is a Civil War era dated merchant store card it should possibly have a Fuld number assigned. The inscription on the lower obverse "I Was In Prison & Ye Came Unto Me" is from Matthew 25:36.

 

William J. Mullen was a jack of all trades: Medical Pioneer, Prison Reformer, Philanthropist, Dentist, Manufacturer.

 

Having made his money manufacturing watch dials, he founded the Female Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1850 it was the world's first medical school for women. It became Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1867 and continues today as the Drexel University College of Medicine. In addition to being the school's founder, he was its first president. The 1880 US Census identifies him as a "Prison Agent." Before Mullen began his work at Philadelphia's Moyamensing prison, inmates had lengthy imprisonments without trial because police officials had trouble discovering evidence against them. Politically motivated magistrates committed individuals for indictable offenses without specifying charges. His work also resulted in the investigation of those police who engaged in criminal activity, or violated the rights of innocent citizens; they were held responsible for their actions. Mullen was a founder and director of the Philadelphia Society for the Employment and Instruction of the Poor and its House of Industry which gave the poor job training. Mullen estimated that he rescued 50,000 people from unjust imprisonment.

 

 

[EXOJUNKIE]

Broadie - I examined this piece in-hand at Baltimore and was equally impressed, although I wasn't equally aware of all its history. I was the underbidder. Glad you were still able to get it cheap.

[BROADSTRUCK]

Broadie - I examined this piece in-hand at Baltimore and was equally impressed, although I wasn't equally aware of all its history. I was the underbidder. Glad you were still able to get it cheap.

 

Ha... It's a small world after all EXOJ

 

As I just mentioned ATS:

 

This was recently in S/B's Baltimore last day internet only auction listed with questionably poor images and no description... A BIG thank you S/B for not mentioning a single word on this one! Anyhow I wasn't able to view it in hand as S/B lot viewing was packed and I was asked if I could come back in a 1/2 hour, but never did manage to venture back. Nevertheless based on how scarce this token is condition was of no real consequence and I just bid and hoped for the best. Well I won it far less then my max bid and have been non patiently wondering what I really bought? Finally it just arrived a couple hours ago and I'm overly thrilled with it and quite excited!

 

Anyhow I almost fell over when I opened S/B's parcel and instantly noticed the far larger diameter as I was certain that the obverse die used for the HT-M17 had been re-cut and re-used on this later dated Mullen.

 

This harsh somewhat slanderous July 29th 1882 Philadelphia Record Newspaper article on Mullen is the most bizarre thing I was able to locate.

 

It was published shortly after his death and mentions the man couldn't write his own name... Yet somehow manged to submit 16 or more annual prison reports.

 

 

[BROADSTRUCK]

1837 Illustrious Predecessor, HT-32 / Low-18, R.2

 

A somewhat recent newp being posted to keep this thread afloat

 

A uncirculated example with lots of remaining trace red which is uncommon for this variety. With a better then average strike on the tortoise shell detail and no die rust present in the obverse/reverse fields. It does have some sort of grayish/black muck that's on the surfaces near the rims of both sides which I feel 6 months left soaking in mineral oil will lift.

 

[BROADSTRUCK]

For years I've always felt Heritage was not the proper venue for exonumia... So I'm kind of in shock at what the 1837 Illustrious Predecessor, HT-32 / Low-18 hammered ($1410.00) in tonight's CSNS auction. It is a nice BU example and I too was tracking it in hopes of securing it for a lot less then 1/4 final hammer until I noticed an issue not part of the striking details. I do know that this is the first example to grade MS65BN and that the previous MS64BN is a hideous murky beast which not only is over graded but should quite possibly be in a details holder. Yet top pop alone on tonight's doesn't hide the fact that it's not fully struck on the shell details of the obverse nor that it has a horizontal staple scratch running completely through the middle of the obverse tortoise shell from end to end. Since I saw all bidders were internet based I'm not sure how many had a chance to view this in hand at lot viewed to notice it

[Hard Times]

Well I bid on it and expected it to go for much less. I confess I did not see the staple scratch until you just pointed it out Broadie. This is always the danger of not seeing in hand and of course, Heritage did not mention this in the description and the scratch looks very subdued online.

 

The thing about this example is threefold. First, quality HT-32's appear nearly impossible to find and I have been looking for 7 years, second, this example is better struck than the Schuman piece or any in the Heritage archives, and finally, without being able to see it in hand, the surfaces look pretty clean with no grunge or serious nicks (except for the now known scratch). So I bid aggressively and was surprised at the additional vigor of bidding. I wonder whom it went to?

 

Best, HT

[coinsarefun]

I have been out of the loop lately, how are the prices on the HTT's?

Up, down....same?

 

 

[Hard Times]

I think the prices are rising steadily. I assume the big bid for the Heritage HT-32 was from knowledgeable collectors that realize just how hard it is going to be to find a no problem, well struck with good surfaces example even if it is an R2, so yes the prices are going up and strongly as more collectors understand this series better.

 

Best, HT

[BROADSTRUCK]

Thomas Elder "Speed The Plow" DeLorey-83 / CA-2 Obverse, 28.75mm, Silver, Uniface - blank reverse die with beaded border.

 

These were supposed to have been struck and distributed at the 1909 Montreal ANA Convention.

 

The obverse design is a exact facsimile of the 1835 Walsh's General Store Hard Times Token HT-216 / Low-99.

 

Although still scarce they are more common in medals such as Brass, Copper, and Aluminum however only 3-5 had been issued in Silver.

 

One of the Silver issues is in the ANS museum collection and another is in the Bank of Canada collection.

 

Although this was purchased with an unknown provenance based on the plate match below of the 3 toning lines around the two E's in "FEED" and on the right Floret...

 

This is the Virgil Brand example described in Brand's sale as "Proof-64, Attractively Toned, Quite Rare"

 

[EXOJUNKIE]

Thomas Elder "Speed The Plow" DeLorey-83 / CA-2 Obverse, 28.75mm, Silver, Uniface - blank reverse die with beaded border.

 

This is the Virgil Brand example described in Brand's sale as "Proof-64, Attractively Toned, Quite Rare"

 

Good to see these pics. Very nice Broadie. Congrats! Glad it turned out as well as you were hoping.

 

There is still a lot of fun stuff out there!

[BROADSTRUCK]

Thomas Elder "Speed The Plow" DeLorey-83 / CA-2 Obverse, 28.75mm, Silver, Uniface - blank reverse die with beaded border.

 

This is the Virgil Brand example described in Brand's sale as "Proof-64, Attractively Toned, Quite Rare"

 

Good to see these pics. Very nice Broadie. Congrats! Glad it turned out as well as you were hoping.

 

There is still a lot of fun stuff out there!

 

Thanks Exo, Yes fun stuff with history, rarity, provenance.... Whats not to love

[BROADSTRUCK]

1834 Running Boar HT-10 / Low-9, Brass, Rarity-3

 

[Hard Times]

Nice Broadie!

[BROADSTRUCK]

Nice Broadie!

 

Thanks HT... Not new just something I found in one of my raw boxes and never imaged.

[BROADSTRUCK]

OK so it's not a Bushnell Fantasy Restrike but I still feel this is worthy for posting in this HTT thread

 

1859 Charles Ira Bushnell - Augustus B. Sage “Numismatic Gallery” Series No.1, Copper, 31mm Diameter.

 

This Charles Ira Bushnell token is listed as #58 in the book titled "100 Greatest American Medals And Tokens" Although Augustus B. Sage in this series addressed other prominent 19th century numismatists, today they are lesser known and Bushnell is the only one that is sought out. This is only the second example I've seen on the market as I was the under bidder on a lower grade example in early 2011. QDB himself needed to borrow an example from the Massachusetts Historical Society museum for the book plate and Harry Bass Jr. only managed to acquire a EF40.

 

Although I'm not doing it justice in my non diffused images,once in hand and rotated it under a light source it is total fully proof-like red/brown eye candy blanketed with lovely deep blue patina.

 

 

Charles I. Bushnell - The “Numismatic Gallery” Series by Q. David Bowers:

 

Our next string of “Focus on People” subjects will bring to the fore a group of numismatists who were viewed as hobby leaders in 1859. That’s right, 1859, or nearly 150 years ago!

 

Augustus B. Sage, teenage New York City coin dealer and primary founder (in March 1858) of the American Numismatic Society, hit upon the idea of issuing a numbered series of medals titled “Numismatic Gallery.” He commissioned George H. Lovett, well known New York die-sinker, to create them, featuring on the obverse of each the portrait of the individual honored, and on the reverse the number and related lettering. Measuring about 31 mm each and available in copper these seem to have enjoyed a popularity at the time. Today, all are fairly scarce in the context of the demand for them, with populations for each generally in the dozens, not the hundreds or the thousands.

 

The series began and ended in 1859, and wound down with number nine. Modern day numismatic historians are confronted with a mystery: number four, featuring Dr. James Chilton, was advertised, and yet no example has ever surfaced—not in an old time auction, not in the marvelous holdings of the American Numismatic Society, and not in any private collections of which we are aware. Chilton, medical doctor and chemist, widely lent or sold his name for use in advertising and endorsements during the 1850s. Perhaps Sage naively thought that he could feature Chilton, also a well-known numismatist, as a subject, and then found out differently when Chilton demanded payment or denied the privilege. As noted, the situation is a mystery.

 

The first honoree, showcased in this installment, is Charles I. Bushnell. In 1857, Sage submitted a series of articles, including answers to questions, for the New-York Dispatch, signing them “Gus.” A challenger rose, an anonymous correspondent who was designated as “Numismatist.” Some repartee ensued, all of which is documented in Q. David Bowers’ American Numismatics Before the Civil War book. “Numismatist” took particular exception to “Gus” citing as a reliable authority the 1842 book by J.R. Eckfeldt and W.E. Dubois, A Manual of Gold and Silver Coins of All Nations, Struck Within the Past Century, which became known popularly as the Assay Manual.

 

In time, “Numismatist” revealed himself to be Charles Ira Bushnell. The two met and became close friends. Bushnell had a medal struck showing a standing figure of Hercules with a club resting over left shoulder in the manner of a baseball bat and his right hand pointing to a fallen goddess (representing the Manual); the inscription BEHOLD THE MANUAL surrounding. The reverse was inscribed NUMISMATIST [bushnell] TO GUS. FOR VALOR. Three examples were struck, one for Sage, one for the New York Sunday Dispatch, and the third for Bushnell himself. In 1864 Sage donated his medal to the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society.

 

Charles I. Bushnell

 

It was perhaps natural when Sage began his Numismatic Gallery series of medalets that Bushnell be selected as number one. As to the subject, a brief biographical sketch follows.

 

Charles I. Bushnell was born on July 28, 1821. In time he became an attorney in New York City, while at the same time pursuing interests in numismatic and historical research, with his most intense activity in the 1850s, when he conducted extensive correspondence in an effort to learn more about the origins of certain early American coins and tokens. Certain of this information was employed by Sylvester S. Crosby in his Early Coins of America (1875) and by Lyman H. Low in his Hard Times Tokens (1899). He is credited by some to have induced the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut, to create fantasies and restrikes to his order, among which were certain pieces related to maker Scovill to restrike the 1837-1841 Hard Times tokens, and possibly also copy-restrikes of the 1787 Fugio cent the so-called “New Haven restrikes.” however, Messrs. Davenport and Levick may have been more involved than Bushnell.

 

Years later, on February 23, 1867, Sage recalled his friend: About the year 1858 I first met Mr. Charles Bushnell, a gentleman who has probably done as much as any other in the country to advance the interest of numismatology. Mr. Bushnell then had his office at No. 63 Wall Street, engaged in the practice of his profession, as a lawyer, and was then, and is still engaged, I believe, on a work which ever completed, published I should say, will rank as the only authentic History of American coinage ever published in this country. During my time there have been numerous efforts by ‘historians of an hour’s growth’ to send their name (and the printers) to posterity, on the title page of an American numismatic work. [such have been of little value.] Mr. Bushnell has published a work on American tokens, the letter press consisting mostly of descriptions of such tokens as came within his observation prior to its publication. What with the thousands of ‘store cards’ and copperheads that have been uttered since, I fancy such a work would now prove rather voluminous.

 

Today, numismatic historians remember Bushnell for his 1858 study, An Arrangement of Tradesmen’s Cards, Political Tokens, also, Election Medals, Medalets, Etc. Current in the United States of America for the Last Sixty Years, Described from the Originals, Chiefly in the Collection of the Author, With Engravings, and his 1859 monograph, An Historical Account of the First Three Business Tokens Issued In The City of New York. The last described “1789” Mott and 1794-1795 Talbot, Allum & Lee tokens.

 

Another recollection of Bushnell was given by Henry Russell Drowne:I remember calling on, I judge about 1873, great collector of the American series. Charles I. Bushnell. He then resided in a house on the east side of 4th Avenue, I think between 29th and 30th streets, I am impressed with the fact that it had no front stoop. Mr. Bushnell, who was then quite advanced in years, had his coin cabinet in a small room near the rear of the house on the second floor. I remember particularly his showing me his rare varieties of the 1793 cents—Wreath, Chain, Liberty Cap, etc., which I had not seen before; also some of the differences in the cents of 1794. He also showed his ‘Good Samaritan Shilling’ as something of special interest, as also the New England and Pine Tree Shilling series. He gave me several coins and medals, some of which I still have.

 

For whatever reason, Bushnell was not very active in numismatics after the Civil War, and the Drowne visit seems to have been unusual for the time. He died at his residence on September 17, 1880. His estate collection was obtained by Lorin G. Parmelee, a Boston bean baker who had one of the largest cabinets of the era. He extracted pieces of interest, and placed the substantial remainder in the hands of brothers S.H. and Henry Chapman, who auctioned it in a memorable sale in June 1882, via a catalogue titled Catalogue of the Celebrated and Valuable Collection of American Coins and Medals of the Late Charles I. Bushnell. The work, over 140 pages, described 3,000 lots. Realized $13,900.47.

 

The holding was well known, and it was desired by all of the leading dealers. When it was awarded to the young Chapman brothers, there was great consternation and jealousy, much of which was reflected in print in competitors’ catalogues, where every typographical or numismatic error that could be found was reprinted with glee. No matter, the collecting fraternity loved the catalogue and the sale itself, and a coin bearing the Bushnell pedigree was considered to be quite special for a long time, indeed, even today. This event, held in 1882, served to establish the foundation for the Chapman brothers’ business. The sale catalogue has become an important reference for colonials, tokens, medals, and other items in the non-mint United States series. An article by John J. Ford, Jr., “The Bushnell Sale,” by John J. Ford, Jr., appeared in The Coin Collector’s Journal, March-April 1951. and remains fascinating to read today.

 

More info on Augustus B. Sage:

 

 

Best remembered today for his medallic series, Sage's Numismatic Gallery, Augustus B. Sage was born in Connecticut in 1842. Little in known of Sage's early life, but in 1858 he was one of a small group of men who decided to form an "Antiquarian Society" in New York City for the study of coins and medals. (This Society, of course, would subsequently be renamed the "American Numismatic Society.")

 

The first meeting of this new society took place on March 15, 1858 at Sage's home on 121 Essex Street in New York City. Additional meetings, including the first formal meeting of the ANS on April 6, 1858, were also held at his home. At this latter meeting, Sage was elected Corresponding Secretary. Later that same year, on November 3, 1858, he was also elected Curator, although pressure from other matters caused him to resign from that position in January 1859.

 

In August 1862, with the Civil War raging, Sage joined the Union Army as a Captain in the New York Infantry Volunteers' 170th Regiment. Sage's first stint in the military service was cut short, however, when he was forced to resign due to ill health in December 1862. By July of 1863 he had recovered sufficiently to return to service, where he served with distinction and rose to the rank of Colonel before submitting his final resignation in December 1863.

 

After leaving the military, Sage returned to New York City where he became a lawyer. There are few indications that Sage had any significant contact with the ANS after his return to New York, other than a series of reminiscences on the formation of the ANS, which he wrote for the American Journal of Numismatics in 1867 and a few dies and catalogs which he donated that same year.

 

Sage died from pneumonia on February 19, 1874 at the age of 32.

[EXOJUNKIE]

Broadie - As I said ATS, neato token and story! (thumbs u

 

So much of this hobby is being in the right place at the right time ... and you were for this one. Congrats!

[BROADSTRUCK]

Broadie - As I said ATS, neato token and story! (thumbs u

 

So much of this hobby is being in the right place at the right time ... and you were for this one. Congrats!

 

Thanks EXOJ!

 

Here's a trio of RB HTT's in old ANACS white chase holder.

 

Doing a thread ATS on these holders and figured I might as well post them here

 

 

 

[EXOJUNKIE]

RED-ilicious! (thumbs u

[BROADSTRUCK]

RED-ilicious! (thumbs u

 

Thanks EXOJ!