(1834) Silvered Brass Token HT-27A, William Seward

Coin Details

Auction Record

$6,600 MS64 08-22-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This silvered brass variety of the 1834 William Seward token adds a silver surface wash to the brass planchet. The combination of silvered finish and political subject matter made these tokens desirable both as political statements and as numismatic collectibles during their period of issue. The die combination used for this variety produced designs with specific characteristics that distinguish it from other numbered Seward tokens. Hard Times Token researchers have spent over a century studying die marriages in this series, building on the foundation laid by Lyman Low in the 1890s and expanded by Russell Rulau and others. The precision of modern cataloging means that each HT number corresponds to a specific and reproducible set of diagnostic features. Silvered pieces from the 1830s that retain substantial original plating are particularly valued because they provide evidence of the original surface treatment that would otherwise be undocumented. Many silvered tokens have been misidentified as plain brass after losing their plating, and the recognition that certain brass pieces were originally silvered has led to revisions in population estimates and rarity ratings for several Hard Times Token types.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Silvered brass examples are difficult to locate, especially with significant remaining silvering.

Cross References

Low 27; Rulau HT-27A