Hard Times & Civil War Tokens thread

Discussion in 'US Coins Forum' started by lordmarcovan, Dec 10, 2025 at 4:14 AM.

  1. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Post your Hard Times and Civil War tokens! (19th century and earlier merchant tokens are fine, too.)

    I liked the antislavery theme on this one. It is no longer mine- I just gifted it to a friend. I might get another, higher-grade example of this type someday (or one of the British Conder tokens that also used the same design).

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    I love Monitor tokens. I used to own an MS65 example of this type, but I think this 63 in my current collection has nicer eye appeal.

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  3. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    This one isn't a HTT or CWT, but rather a merchant token from the Antebellum South, which makes it interesting. Since I sometimes wear a top hat to coin shows, I also liked the hat motif. I also like how some of the merchant tokens of this era had an eagle that resembled the one on the gold coins.

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    Collecting Nut, Histman, Mr.Q and 9 others like this.
  4. paddyman98

    paddyman98 I'm a professional expert in specializing! Supporter

    I metal detected this item in 2024

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  5. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Fun find, @paddyman98! I dug some cool old tokens over the years, when I was a detectorist, but never a Civil War token. (Other Civil War relics, sure, but no CWTs.)
     
  6. dwhiz

    dwhiz Collector Supporter

    This just came back from ICG 1837 HARD TIMES TOKEN HT-33 ILLUSTRIOUS PREDECESSOR  30 BN 1a-horz.jpg 1917 2017 Peace Hard times token 1-horz.jpg
     
  7. Chris B

    Chris B Supporter! Supporter

    I have a few. My wife is really the CWT collector and we don't have photos of many.

    CWT 03.jpg HT61 01.jpg HT153 01.jpg HT216 01.jpg US 1837 01.jpg
     
  8. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    Good old Spoot. @lordmarcovan you will recognize this one. I like it so much that it perpetually stays on my desk. I actually have quite a collection of civil war tokens at home. Was perusing one of my boxes the other week and was surprised at how many I had. Sadly, they are home and can't be photographed at the moment.

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  9. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic numismatist Moderator

    Good ol’ SPOOT! I remember it well.

    So there’s a CWT. Got any HTTs, Randy?
     
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  10. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    I do. Just not any photographed at the office.
     
  11. Timewarp

    Timewarp Intrepid Traveler

    I got quite a few. Can't post them all, so here's a couple of errors.
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  12. Pickin and Grinin

    Pickin and Grinin Well-Known Member

    @Randy Abercrombie Here is the Spot version. upload_2025-12-10_9-40-19.jpeg
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    I will have to look for some HTT photos.
     
  13. Randy Abercrombie

    Randy Abercrombie Supporter! Supporter

    And these would typically trade at the rate of one cent wouldn't they?
     
  14. Timewarp

    Timewarp Intrepid Traveler

    As far as I know, Yes.
     
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  15. Tall Paul

    Tall Paul Supporter! Supporter

    The first three tokens that I've posted are all from the Dave Bowers reference collection. The fourth one is from a Steve Hayden auction

    Not only is this token in my Civil War store card collection but it's also in my beehive collection. MS-65BN, R-6, F-460V-1a.
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    I liked this one because I liked the phonetic spelling of cigars. MS-64 BN, R-4,
    F-630 AF-3a.
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    MS-63 BN, R-5, F-165CY 38a
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    Patriotic Civil War Token. MS-65 BN, R-1, F-240/337a.
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    Last edited: Dec 10, 2025 at 1:40 PM
    Mr.Q, Collecting Nut, Chris B and 3 others like this.
  16. Neal

    Neal Well-Known Member

  17. Tall Paul

    Tall Paul Supporter! Supporter

    Time for a plug. Check out the Civil War Token Society @CWTSociety.com
    Annual dues is $30. They also have available the two CWT token reference works on Store Cards and Patriotic tokens written by George and Melvin Fuld.
     
  18. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Here’s my Lady Godiva Token. It’s not a CWT as it was minted in 1792-1794. It was a tax protest.
     
  19. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Trade and commerce tokens.
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  20. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    Here’s a CWT, the Monitor iron clad ship. I only have a photo of the shop side.
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    This is a Kentucky Token.
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  21. Collecting Nut

    Collecting Nut Borderline Hoarder

    An 1861 advertising token for plumbing and gas fitting. They are from Michigan.
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