(1841) Token HT-58, Not One Cent

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 MS65BN 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

This 1841 copper Not One Cent token bears a date three years after the main Panic of 1837, reflecting the prolonged nature of the economic depression that continued well into the 1840s. The later date indicates that the demand for Hard Times Tokens persisted long after the initial financial shock, as the economy remained depressed and the coin shortage continued throughout Van Buren's presidency and into the early years of the Tyler administration. The 1841 date places this token in the final years of the Hard Times Token era. By 1841, the political landscape had shifted dramatically: the Whigs had won the presidency with William Henry Harrison's election in 1840, and Harrison's death and Tyler's succession had upended Whig legislative plans. The economic recovery that Whigs had promised remained elusive, and the ongoing need for token currency demonstrated that changing the party in power had not immediately solved the nation's monetary problems. The continued production of Not One Cent tokens in 1841 also reflected the maturation of the token industry. By this point, manufacturers had developed efficient production systems, established distribution networks, and built brand recognition for their most popular designs. The Liberty/Not One Cent format had become a standard item in the private currency marketplace.

Rarity Notes

Common. Later-date copper variant with standard availability.

Cross References

Low 41; Rulau HT-58