(1834) Token HT-6, Andrew Jackson

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,763 MS63 02-16-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

This 1834 brass Andrew Jackson token features a portrait of the president on the obverse and a political reverse design related to the Bank War. The token was struck during the height of the constitutional crisis over federal banking policy, when Jackson's removal of deposits from the Second Bank provoked Senate censure and intense national debate about the limits of executive power. The die sinkers who produced political Hard Times Tokens operated in an environment of intense partisan competition. Both pro-Jackson and anti-Jackson factions commissioned tokens, medals, and satirical pieces to advance their positions. The portability and durability of metallic tokens made them effective propaganda tools in an era before mass-media advertising — they could be carried in pockets, displayed on counters, and passed from hand to hand, spreading political messages with each transaction. Jackson's image on tokens from this period typically follows established portrait conventions, with the president shown in civilian dress with a high collar and cravat. The brass composition of this piece gives it a warm golden tone that distinguished it from the darker copper tokens that made up the majority of Hard Times Token production.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Brass composition with moderate availability among Hard Times Token collectors.

Cross References

Low 6; Rulau HT-6