(1837) Token HT-50, Liberty - Not One Cent

Coin Details

Description

This 1837 copper Liberty / Not One Cent token is another die variety from the extensive E PLURIBUS UNUM subgroup. The token maintains the standard format of the series: Liberty head left with E PLURIBUS UNUM on the obverse, "NOT ONE CENT" within wreath on the reverse, all at the standard 28mm diameter suitable for circulation as a cent substitute. The cultural impact of the Liberty/Not One Cent series extended well beyond its immediate political and commercial functions. These tokens established a template for private emergency coinage that would be revived during the Civil War, when a similar coin shortage prompted the production of millions of Civil War tokens between 1861 and 1864. The structural parallels between Hard Times Tokens and Civil War tokens — private production filling a federal coinage gap, political messages on circulatory pieces, similar sizes and compositions — demonstrate the recurring patterns of American monetary history. Collectors today benefit from the large original mintages of Liberty/Not One Cent tokens, which ensure a steady supply of examples in the marketplace. Even beginning collectors can assemble sets of multiple die varieties at modest cost, making this one of the most accessible areas of early American token collecting.

Rarity Notes

Common. Readily available in the marketplace across a range of grades and conditions.

Cross References

Low 35; Rulau HT-50