(1834) Silvered Brass Token HT-10A, Running Boar

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,800 MS64 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This silvered brass variety of the 1834 Running Boar token combines the brass substrate of HT-10 with a silver wash that gives it a bright, lustrous appearance. The silvering process applied to this token involved coating the finished brass striking with a thin layer of silver, producing a piece that mimicked the appearance of solid silver at a fraction of the material cost. Silvered brass Hard Times Tokens were produced in limited quantities compared to plain copper and brass versions. The additional processing step added cost and time to production, limiting the economic viability of large runs. These pieces served as semi-premium items, sold at a slight markup to collectors or political enthusiasts who wanted a more impressive-looking specimen than the common copper version. The Running Boar design on this silvered piece would have presented a striking visual contrast when new — the bright silver surface highlighting the incuse details of the charging boar against the reflective field. Over nearly two centuries, most silvered pieces have lost some or all of their surface plating, and the degree of surviving silvering is a significant factor in the coin's appeal to modern collectors.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silvered brass examples of the Running Boar are uncommon, with most showing partial silvering loss.

Cross References

Low 10; Rulau HT-10A