(1840) Token HT-75B, Martin Van Buren

Coin Details

Description

This silvered copper variety of the 1840 Van Buren campaign token combines a copper core with a silver surface wash. The silvering gives the token a bright, lustrous appearance appropriate for a political presentation piece or an upscale campaign souvenir. The 29mm diameter is slightly larger than the standard 28mm copper version. Silvered campaign tokens occupied a special niche in 1840 political merchandising. More impressive than plain copper but less expensive than solid silver, silvered pieces served as intermediate-quality items that could be given as gifts to supporters, sold as premium souvenirs, or worn as distinctive accessories during campaign events. The silver-like appearance lent these tokens an air of official importance that enhanced their political impact. The 1840 election produced an enormous variety of campaign tokens, medals, and related memorabilia for both parties, establishing patterns of political merchandising that would be followed in every subsequent presidential campaign. Van Buren pieces from this campaign are generally less common than Harrison pieces, reflecting both the outcomes of the election and the demographics of the token-collecting community.

Rarity Notes

Scarce. Silvered copper variant with moderate surviving population.

Cross References

Low 192; Rulau HT-75B