(1834) Token HT-15, Whig Victory

Coin Details

Auction Record

$5,280 MS63BN 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1834 copper Whig Victory token features the standard cent-sized 27mm diameter format that made it suitable for everyday circulation as a substitute for the scarce United States large cent. The copper composition and appropriate weight made it virtually interchangeable with official coinage in retail transactions, allowing the token to spread its political message through the normal channels of commerce. The Whig Victory series was among the most prolific political token issues of the Hard Times era, produced in multiple die varieties and compositions that reflect both the intensity of political feeling and the commercial viability of the token business. Token manufacturers recognized that political pieces had a ready market among partisans who would pay for the privilege of carrying and distributing anti-Jackson or pro-Bank propaganda in a tangible, durable form. Copper versions of the Whig Victory token are the most commonly encountered composition in this subseries, consistent with the pattern across the Hard Times Token series where copper represents the base production metal for circulatory pieces. The 27mm diameter and approximately 10.5-gram weight placed this token squarely in the comfort zone for merchants and citizens accustomed to handling large cents.

Rarity Notes

Common. Copper Whig Victory tokens at 27mm are among the more available varieties in the political subseries.

Cross References

Low 15; Rulau HT-15