(1834) Copper Token HT-25, The Constitution

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,320 MS63BN 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1834 copper token features inscriptions related to "The Constitution," reflecting the Whig argument that Jackson's removal of deposits from the Second Bank of the United States violated constitutional principles of congressional authority over public funds. The Whig Party derived its very name from the concept of resistance to executive tyranny, and the Constitution was central to their political identity. The constitutional argument against Jackson centered on the president's decision to remove federal deposits without congressional authorization. The Bank's charter gave the Secretary of the Treasury, not the president, the authority to move government funds, and Jackson had to fire two secretaries who refused to comply before finding Roger B. Taney willing to execute the transfer. Whigs charged that this chain of dismissals constituted an abuse of executive power, effectively making the president a monarch who could override the will of Congress by replacing officials until he found one who would obey. This token's emphasis on constitutional themes connects the Bank War to the broader American tradition of constitutionalism and limited government. The 28mm diameter and 10.5-gram weight made it a practical circulation piece, spreading its constitutional message through everyday commercial transactions during the Hard Times period.

Rarity Notes

Common. Copper Constitution token with good survival rate from significant original production.

Cross References

Low 25; Rulau HT-25