(1834) Token HT-25A, William Seward

Coin Details

Description

This silvered copper variety of the 1834 Constitution token features a silver wash over the copper substrate, giving it a bright, lustrous appearance while maintaining the weight and feel of the copper base. The silvered surface would have made this token visually distinctive among the predominantly copper Hard Times Tokens in circulation. The William Seward connection to this token reflects the New York politician's prominence in the anti-Jackson movement. William Henry Seward (1801-1872) was a rising figure in Whig politics during the 1830s, serving as a New York State Senator (1830-1834) before becoming Governor (1838-1842) and eventually United States Senator (1849-1861). His early political career was defined by opposition to Jackson's banking policies and advocacy for internal improvements, public education, and eventually abolition. Silvered copper tokens are distinguishable from silvered brass by their underlying base metal, which shows as a reddish-brown color where the silver wash has worn through, compared to the yellow revealed on silvered brass pieces. The silvering technique used in the 1830s was typically mercury-based, involving the application of a silver-mercury amalgam that was then heated to drive off the mercury and bond the silver to the copper surface.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Silvered copper examples are less common than plain copper but appear periodically at auction.

Cross References

Low 25; Rulau HT-25A