(1834) Token HT-30, Gulian Verplanck

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,320 MS64 08-20-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1834 brass token features Gulian Verplanck, a New York congressman and political figure who played a notable role in the tariff debates of the Jacksonian era. Verplanck (1786-1870) represented New York in Congress from 1825 to 1833 and was known for his opposition to protective tariffs, a position that put him at odds with many of his Whig allies while aligning him with southern and western free-trade advocates. Verplanck's appearance on a Hard Times Token is less expected than that of Jackson, Webster, or Clay, reflecting the localized nature of some token production. As a New York figure, Verplanck was well-known to the New York-based die sinkers who produced most Hard Times Tokens, and his political positions on banking and trade policy were directly relevant to the commercial classes who used these tokens. His 1833 tariff reform bill, though ultimately superseded by Clay's Compromise Tariff, demonstrated the complexity of antebellum political alignments that did not always fall neatly along party lines. The brass composition and 28mm diameter make this a standard-format circulatory token. Verplanck tokens are less frequently encountered than those of the major political figures, reflecting both smaller original production and reduced collector demand compared to the Jackson and Webster series.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Verplanck tokens are less commonly available than those of more prominent political figures.

Cross References

Low 30; Rulau HT-30