(1834) Token HT-5A, Andrew Jackson

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 AU58 09-29-2021 Heritage Auctions

Description

This white metal variety of the 1834 Andrew Jackson token was struck on a white metal planchet, distinguishing it from the more common brass version (HT-5). White metal, an alloy primarily composed of tin with additions of antimony and sometimes copper, produces a bright silvery appearance that would have contrasted sharply with the brass and copper tokens in common circulation. White metal strikings in the Hard Times Token series were produced in very limited quantities, often as presentation pieces, dealer specimens, or proof-like examples for collectors. The technology of token production in the 1830s allowed small private mints and die sinkers to strike limited numbers on various metals according to demand, and the existence of composition variants across multiple metals is characteristic of the era's token production practices. The survival rate of white metal tokens is generally lower than for copper or brass pieces, as the softer alloy is more susceptible to environmental damage, bending, and surface corrosion. Collectors of Hard Times Tokens prize white metal varieties as key rarities within each die combination, and complete sets incorporating all known compositions command substantial premiums over collections limited to base-metal strikings.

Rarity Notes

Rare. White metal strikings of this variety are seldom encountered. Very few examples survive in collectible condition.

Cross References

Low 5; Rulau HT-5A