(No Date) Token HT-401S, Philadelphia PA

Coin Details

Description

This undated Bolivar House counterstamp is another variety in the Philadelphia hotel's extensive series of advertising pieces. The Bolivar punch was applied to various circulating coins, and each different host coin constitutes a separate collectible variety in the Rulau catalog. The "S" suffix denotes a variety identified after the primary HT-400/401 entries were established. The Bolivar House building on Chestnut Street had a colorful history beyond its hotel function. It served as a gathering place for political organizations opposing President Andrew Jackson's policies—an ironic association given that Hard Times tokens as a category owe their existence to the economic turmoil that Jackson's banking policies helped create. The building later became the Melodeon concert hall and eventually Wood's Museum, reflecting the evolving entertainment landscape of antebellum Philadelphia. Counterstamped coins from the Bolivar House are collected both as Hard Times tokens and as examples of early American advertising. The variety of host coins used—spanning American, Mexican, and other foreign denominations—provides a snapshot of the diverse coinage circulating in Philadelphia commerce during this period.

Rarity Notes

Rare. Bolivar House counterstamp variant.

Cross References

Rulau HT-401S