(1837) Copper Token HT-45, Liberty - Not One Cent

Coin Details

Description

This 1837 copper Liberty / Not One Cent token is uniquely distinguished within the series by the absence of a line under "CENT" on the reverse. In most Liberty/Not One Cent varieties, a horizontal line appears directly beneath the word CENT inside the wreath; HT-45 is the only standard variety that omits this feature, making it one of the easiest die varieties to identify in the entire subseries. The diagnostic significance of the line under CENT was recognized early in the study of Hard Times Tokens and has been a primary sorting criterion since Lyman Low's original catalog. The consistent presence of this line on all other varieties indicates it was a deliberate design element — intended to underscore the "NOT ONE CENT" message or to add visual balance to the reverse composition. Its absence on HT-45 indicates the use of a specific reverse die that either intentionally or accidentally omitted the feature. For collectors, HT-45 represents an accessible and identifiable variety that can be quickly sorted from mixed lots of Liberty/Not One Cent tokens. The ease of identification, combined with its distinctive die feature, makes it a popular target for variety collectors and a standard inclusion in curated sets of the series.

Rarity Notes

Common. The distinctive no-line-under-CENT feature makes this an easily identified and commonly collected variety.

Cross References

Low 30; Rulau HT-45