(1834) Brass Token HT-10, Running Boar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$4,080 MS66 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1834 brass variety of the Running Boar token features the charging boar motif that became one of the most recognizable political symbols of the Hard Times era. The brass composition gives this piece a bright golden color that distinguishes it from the darker copper versions of the Running Boar design. The Running Boar tokens were produced by one of the several die sinkers active in New York City during the 1830s, where the concentration of engravers, metalworkers, and printing establishments made the city the center of American political token production. Die sinkers like William Kneass, Christian Gobrecht (who also engraved dies for the U.S. Mint), and lesser-known artisans competed for commissions from political operatives, merchants, and speculators who recognized the commercial potential of token production. Brass strikings of the Running Boar token are less common than their copper counterparts but more frequently encountered than silver or white metal versions. The brass alloy of the era typically consisted of approximately 70% copper and 30% zinc, producing the characteristic yellow color that made these tokens visually distinct from the reddish-brown copper pieces. Collectors classify the Running Boar tokens by metal composition, die variety, and condition, with the brass versions occupying a middle tier of scarcity.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Brass strikings are less common than copper but regularly available in the marketplace.

Cross References

Low 10; Rulau HT-10