(1837) Copper Token HT-36, Liberty - Not One Cent

Coin Details

Description

This 1837 copper Liberty Head / Not One Cent token is a die variety without the "E PLURIBUS UNUM" banner, sharing the subgroup classification with HT-35 and HT-37. The absence of the E PLURIBUS UNUM legend on the obverse distinguishes this group from the larger series (HT-38 through HT-52) that includes the motto, creating an important diagnostic split in the Liberty Head subseries. The Liberty head on these tokens was engraved to resemble the Matron Head design used on U.S. Large Cents from 1816 to 1839. The similarity was deliberate — token makers wanted their products to be readily accepted in commerce, and a familiar design inspired confidence in the token's utility if not its official status. The degree of resemblance varied among die sinkers, with some producing remarkably accurate copies and others creating more stylized or crude interpretations of the federal design. The 28mm diameter and 10.5-gram weight placed this token squarely within the parameters of the U.S. Large Cent, reinforcing its practical function as a cent substitute. The wreath on the reverse, enclosing "NOT ONE CENT," follows the general pattern of the federal cent's reverse wreath while incorporating the politically charged inscription that distinguished it from official coinage.

Rarity Notes

Common. Standard copper variety with good marketplace availability.

Cross References

Low 21; Rulau HT-36