(1838) Copper Token HT-83A, Beehive

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 MS62BN 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This copper variant of the beehive token carries the same "BY INDUSTRY WE HOPE TO PROSPER" motto as the brass HT-83. The change from brass to copper may reflect different production batches, customer preferences, or the die-cutter's use of whatever planchet material was available. The beehive design and its industriousness message remain identical across both metallic compositions. The copper composition gives this variant a different visual character from the yellow-brass primary type. Copper's warm reddish-brown tone and tendency to develop an attractive patina over time made it the preferred metal for many Hard Times token collectors, while the brass type's golden color more closely approximated the appearance of a gold coin—an ironic connection given the token's implicit criticism of the gold-standard policies that contributed to the monetary crisis. The R-4 rarity designation for HT-83A (approximately 31 to 75 known specimens) makes it considerably scarcer than many political Hard Times tokens, which were often produced in quantities of thousands. The limited production may indicate that the copper version was a secondary run intended for a specific distributor or market, rather than the primary mass-production effort.

Rarity Notes

Rarity R-4 (31-75 known). Copper variant of the beehive prosperity token.

Cross References

Rulau HT-83A