First, let me say that I am not a coin collector. The reason I'm on this forum is to get some information. I recently found an old coin (or token) and need some information about it. According to information aquired by Googling, it is a "hard times token"....but is it really? It is about 1 1/4" dia. and appears to be made of copper. Around the periphery of one side are the words "my substitute for the US bank. In the middle is a bust of Jackson and below that the words, "expirement, MY currency, My glory. On the reverse side, around the periphery are the words PERISH CREDIT PERISH COMMERCE and the date 1824. In the middle, at the top, are the words MY victory, below that, the figure of a running hog and below that the words "down with the bank". Now for the kicker....on the side with the jackson bust, the word "COPY" has been stamped in very small letters. Everything else is in raised letters, but this is indented and appears to have been stamped. What do I have?
Yes, what you have is a replica of a hard times token. As mandated by law in the Hobby Protection Act of 1973, all replica coins have to have the word "copy" stamped into them as you describe. This prevents the replicas from being sold as originals.
Thanks for the quick reply. One more question, what was the purpose of making a copy, then stamping it to identify it as a copy. Why would anyone want a worthless copy? One more thing...any idea how old it might be?
People get them as souvenirs. For example, when I was in the 7th grade I went on a class trip to Virginia and Washington DC. While in Williamsburg, VA I found a gift shop and bought a replica of a 1773 Virginia Half Penny. I was just getting into coins at the time and I thought it was cool. Now, over a decade later I still have that copy and I still like it. That particular design is now one of my favorites and I plan on picking up a real Virginia Half Penny down the road.
some answers to your one question, the purpose of making a copy is to allow collectors to have an affordable example of a rarity that otherwise they would not be able to have in their collection, the reason for it being stamped is so that unwary collectors would not pay the same money for the copy that they would for the original, basically IF the law was followed and enforced the coin market would be safer for investors and collectors. and finally, as to why a collector would want a "worthless" copy of an original coin, it is because sometimes the art, the execution, and other variables make the copy desirable, you love the colonial curency, but you cannot afford the Janus cent, but you buy a copy to have a hard example of it, that does not make them always exactly worthless, most confederate coinage was restruck long after the event, as was the 1804 silver dollar, which had not been struck in the year of issue, so technically, the 1804 silver dollar which is worth millions is a fantasy piece, and a sort of copy of other coins except it was done at the behest of the pols of those days.
Copies allow you to imagine that you are holding the actual coin, to turn it in the light and see how the design changes, and to imagine how the original may have been used in its time. I think I would enjoy a copy of a Higley copper.
Or similar to how notes say "THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE", while online copies show "SPECIMEN"...?
Thanks to moderator and all who replied with info on my Hard Times piece. As I said, I am not a collector, but I do have a coin I have kept for years for sentimental reasons and while I am on the forum, I might as well get an idea if it has any worth, other than it's face value. It is an 1888 silver dollar...pretty well tarnished, but does not show much wear. As a youngster, growing up on the farm, I used to hunt and trap a lot. The local hide and fur house always paid in silver (the grease and smell from the hides would saturate paper money) I saved the last silver dollar I got...probably from a skunk or possum hide, and I still have it 60 years later.
