New York 1837 Smith's Clock Establishment HT-314, Low-135, W-NY-940-20a. Rarity-2. I have a couple Hard Times Tokens and a few Civil War Tokens just because, so I don't know that much about them. I was perusing some online shops today and I ran across this token. I don't know why but I really wanted it. I did a quick price check on eBay and I didn't find any listed. The price was in line with some of the more common varieties so I pulled the trigger. I really need to purchase a good token guide (suggestions appreciated) because it took a couple of hours online to find out what I bought and apparently it is quite scarce in better grades. It won't be in my mailbox for a couple weeks so all I have are the sellers pics.
Neato! So that "Time Is Money" motif actually does date back to the Hard Times era, then! I wasn't sure, because my Peacock token with that reverse was struck much later than the "1837" on it (circa 1902). But yours looks like a proper early 19th century piece. I want your holey 1877 IHC avatar, BTW. I just recently started a holed date set of Indian cents. Pinning 'em on my cork board. (I'll probably just drill a replica piece for that date and call it done, though that's the only year I'd so "cheat" on.)
Very nice token. Your token made me realize something. I thought that positioning the hands of the clock at around 10:10 to 10:13 was a pretty modern day advertising thing. I read somewhere that by doing so, the hands of the watch or clock look "balanced" and pleasing to the eye. But I guess it's not a modern day thing. Your token is dated 1837. Wow.
Mine is too, but was actually struck much later (ca. 1902, as mentioned). But I think his probably is from 1837, or thereabouts. Which is what most Hard Times Tokens were dated.
I need to Google what "Hard Times Tokens" are all about. I think I read about them once in The Numismatist but it didn't stick.
I have a small line waiting for my 77. Most of my IHC set is XF/AU and this is the only way I could afford to fill that hole in that grade. I got it from a European seller who had it listed under good pricing and I was lucky that I found it first.
If you can find a copy of the catalog for the Dice-Hicks sale at Stacks in 2008, that is an excellent reference for the HTT's. Bowers wrote a book on them, I believe. As to pricing, you pretty much have to go with APR's from S-B, Heritage, Steve Hayden etc. That's a nice token with a timeless motif!
