(1836) Token HT-143A, Houck's Panacea (on 1807-Mo TH Real)

Coin Details

Description

This Houck's Panacea counterstamp on a Mexican 1 real (approximately one-eighth of a dollar) represents the smallest denomination silver host coin in the Houck series. The Mexican real, a continuation of the Spanish colonial monetary system following Mexican independence in 1821, circulated alongside earlier Spanish colonial issues in the United States throughout the antebellum period. The small size of the 1 real host coin (approximately 21mm diameter) barely accommodated the Houck's Panacea counterstamp, which dominates the coin's surface. The resulting piece is more advertising than currency — the counterstamp obscures much of the original coin design, effectively converting the real from a circulating coin into a purely promotional piece. This variety illustrates Houck's indiscriminate approach to host coin selection: any silver coin that came through his hands or was purchased specifically for counterstamping was fair game for his advertising program. The variety of host coins — from silver dollars down to single reales, spanning American, Spanish, Mexican, and other national coinages — creates the numismatic complexity that makes the Houck's Panacea series a specialized collecting pursuit within the broader Hard Times Token field.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Mexican real host variety is uncommon. Rarity R-5.

Cross References

Rulau HT-143A; Brunk H-768