(1841) Copper Token HT-19, Daniel Webster

Coin Details

Description

This 1841 copper Daniel Webster token is a die variety distinguished from HT-18 by specific differences in the portrait, lettering, or arrangement of design elements. The series of Webster tokens (HT-18 through HT-23) represents one of the most sustained tributes to a single political figure in the Hard Times Token series, reflecting Webster's enormous popularity among Whig voters and his status as a perennial presidential hopeful. Webster's appeal to token makers and their customers stemmed from his celebrity status in an era when great orators commanded the kind of public adulation later reserved for actors and athletes. His thundering speeches in defense of the Constitution and the Union were reprinted in newspapers, memorized by schoolchildren, and quoted in political debate for decades. The tokens bearing his likeness were tangible expressions of political allegiance, carried in pockets and exchanged in commerce as declarations of Whig sympathy. The copper composition and standard 28mm diameter mark this as a circulatory token intended to serve as a cent substitute while simultaneously promoting Whig political values. Webster's monetary philosophy — favoring a stable national bank, sound currency, and government support for commercial enterprise — was directly relevant to the economic distress that made token currency necessary in the first place.

Rarity Notes

Common. Standard copper Webster token with good survival rate from substantial original production.

Cross References

Low 19; Rulau HT-19