(1837) Copper Token HT-313, Smith's Clock Establishment NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$900 MS63BN 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1837 copper Smith's Clock Establishment token is distinguished by the straight "Establishment" script on the reverse, without the decorative ornaments that appear on some other varieties. The obverse again features the clock face at 10:14 with "TIME IS MONEY," maintaining the design consistency that makes the Smith's Clock series immediately recognizable among merchant Hard Times Tokens. The distinction between straight and curved "Establishment" lettering (HT-313 vs. HT-314/315) represents different die engravings that produce recognizably different finished products. The straight-script version projects a more formal, businesslike appearance, while the curved version has a slightly more decorative quality. These differences reflect the individual stylistic choices of the die sinkers who produced the various Smith's Clock dies. Smith's Clock tokens are among the most popular merchant Hard Times Tokens with collectors, partly because the clock face design is visually appealing and partly because the "TIME IS MONEY" motto resonates with the broader themes of commerce, industry, and economic anxiety that define the Hard Times era. The aphorism, which Franklin published in his 1748 essay "Advice to a Young Tradesman," has become one of the most quoted phrases in the English language.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. The straight-script variety appears regularly but is less common than HT-314/315. Rarity R-3.

Cross References

Low 133; Rulau HT-313