Liberty - Not One Cent For Tribute
   HT 35       Low 21       MS 62 BN       R-2   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 27.2mm. This variety lacks the obverse legend E PLURIBUS UNUM, which is present on HT-38 through HT-52. The small date and narrow bust truncation further distinguish HT-35.

The Madision Collection (Heritage Auction Galleries, February 14, 2008, lot 81317). Ex. John J. Ford, Jr. Collection, Part 4 (Stack's, June 2004, lot 70). Ex: F.C.C. Boyd estate.

   HT 36       Low 22       XF 45BN       R-3   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. Smaller head, fifteen stars, two of them small, separated by date. Details...

Equivalent strike and conditionto the Rulau Sixth Edition plate coin. This particular issue is very scarce above VF.

Ex. Richard Gross Collection.

   HT 37       Low 23       XF 40 BN       R-4   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. NOT ONE CENT is higher in wreath, which has nine berries outside, four inside. Details...

Steve Hayden: "I only have records of seven higher grade examples in my database."

Steve Hayden Mail Bid Sale #21, May 22, 2004, lot 620.

   HT 38       Low 24       UNC 63       R-7   

Liberty - Not One Cent. Bushnell fantasy. 28mm. Copper. E PLURIBUS UNUM. Above head, chaplet of laurel leaves, plain hair cord. Thirteen stars, small 1937 lowest curl terminates right below neck, opposite the first star. Details...

A bit on the dark side, as usual. Struck on thick planchet, but with relatively smooth surfaces. Pedigreed by Donald Miller to the Hetrich Collection.

The Charles Litman Collection, PCAC sale #72, December 6, 2003, lot 31.
Ex. Donald Miller collection.
Ex. Hetrich collection.

   HT 41       Low 27       AU-55       R-7   

Liberty - Not One Cent. Bushnell fantasy. 28mm. Copper. 10 gms. A star has been added on each side of FOR and a dash below CENT. Thick planchet. Details...

Granular with traces of old oxidation on the surfaces. Some examples of Low 27 are overstruck on large cents or other Hard Times Tokens. This one, pedigreed by Donald Miller to the Hetrich Collection, is not.

The Charles Litman Collection, PCAC sale #72, December 6, 2003, lot 32.
Ex. Donald Miller collection.
Ex. Hetrick collection.

   HT 42       Low 28       MS 63 BN       R-1   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. The wreath has six berries outside, seven inside.

Nice olive brown toning overall. Rare in this high grade.

Stack's April 15, 1992 sale lot 3583.

   HT 45       Low 30       MS 63 BN       R-2   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. Chin & point of bust short; curl on below neck, both terminate left, the latter above 37.

A lovely brown uncirculated specimen. Superior to the John J. Ford specimen sold on June 23, 2004.

The Charles Litman Collection, PCAC sale #72, December 6, 2003, lot 34.
Probably Ex. Donald Miller Collection.

   HT 46       Low 31       MS 62 BN       R-2   

NOT ONE CENT. Millions for Defense. 1837. Bronze. 28.1mm. Nose sharp; point above 1 in date; lowest horizontal (only instance) with curl terminating right; above 7; end of scroll beneath second U in UNUM.

About Uncirculated. Brown toning overall. A sharp, well struck coin.

   HT 46R       Low 31R       XF-45       R-3   

Millions for Defense, Not One Cent for Tribute. Copper. 28mm. 3 struck over 5 in 1837. Details...


Obv: Two small black spots are in the field at the left of Liberty's mouth.

"3" struck over "5" in "1837". Many do not recognize HT 46R as a separate variety, rather a later stage of striking.

The "3" is less filled than most of this variety, further confirming that the plugged "3" is a progressive die degradation.

The Sara Hinckley Collection of Hard Times Tokens, PCAC Exonumia Auction #76, November 11, 2006, lot 190.

   HT 46R UNL       Low 31R UNL       XF-45       R-9   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837/57. Copper. 28.1mm. UNLISTED. H*H counterstamp on obverse.


Obv: A number of thin scratches traverse the surface in different directions.


Rev: A number of thin scratches traverse the surface in different directions.

   HT 47       Low 32       MS 64 BN       R-1   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837/57. Copper. 28mm. Curl on and below neck, both terminate at left; end of scroll under N in UNUM, which is double-cut at bottom.

The "3" is less filled than most of this variety, further confirming that the plugged "3" is a progressive die degradation.

Obv: Two small black spots are in the field at the left of Liberty's mouth.

The Sara Hinckley Collection of Hard Times Tokens, PCAC Exonumia Auction #76, November 11, 2006, lot 190.

   HT 48       Low 33       MS 65 BN       R-1   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. Curl on and below neck, both terminate at left; end of scroll under N in UNUM, which is double-cut at bottom. The wreath has five berries inside, three outside (one opposite second E in DEFENCE).

Very well struck with nearly flawless fields.

Ex. Richard Gross Collection.

   HT 49       Low 34       MS 64 BN       R-1   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. No obvious letter distortion, though worn. As reverse of HT 47. Right stems as original.

Tan with hints of aqua, red and gold toning. Some cartwheel under lovely satin surfaces.

   HT 50       Low 35       MS 63 BN       R-2   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. Retouched die. Stemps recut at certain points. Die failing at ILL of MILLIONS. Dot after E of TRIBUTE almost disappeared.

Mostly brown with a few scattered traces of mint color. Light marks only.

The John J. Ford Collection (Stack's, June 23, 2004, lot 90).
Ex. F.C.C. Boyd Estate.

   HT 51       Low 36       MS 64 BN       R-2   

Liberty - Not One Cent. (1840). Copper. 28mm. The wreath has six berries inside, two outside.

Nice uniform milk chocolate color. Needle sharp strike.

   HT 52       Low 39       MS 64 BN       R-1   

Liberty-Oak Leaves, Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. All tokens HT 45 thru HT 52 were struck by Scovill in Waterbury, Conn.

Deep brownish red with some darker spots, small deposits. Extremely rare, struck for Charles Ira Bushnell, pioneer cataloguer of Hard Times Tokens. Stacks: "We note only four auction records in the past 50 years. It is doubtful more than 6 are known."

Stack's January 21, 2003 sale, lot 1248.
Ex. Griner Collection (Bowers & Marena, March 1989).
Ex. Garrett Collection Part II (Bowers & Ruddy Galleries, March 26 & 27, 1980, lot 1129).

   HT 53       Low 41       UNC 60       R-7   

Millions For Defense - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28.5mm. Bushnell Fantasy. Wreath has three berries outside, six inside.

Splendid brown toning overall with much fading red.

Stack's Americana sale, January 15-17, 2002, lot 561.

   HT 54       Low 42       UNC 63       R-7   

Millions For Defense - Not One Cent. Bushnell Fantasy. Copper. 29.4mm. Details...

Bushnell Fantasy. The Obverse is from the same die as Low 41. The reverse uses the same die as Low 41 with the wreath re-engraved, seven berries each outside and inside, and a short dash added below CENT.

The Charles Litman Collection, PCAC sale #72, December 6, 2003, lot 39.
Probably Ex. Donald Miller Collection.

   HT 55       Low 43       AU-55       R-7   

Millions For Defense - Not One Cent. Bushnell fantasy. 29.5mm. Copper. 9.9 grams. Lightening added above the ship and a fire topmast and main-topmast falling forward. Details...

About Uncirculated with dark oxidized surfaces. Well struck in most areas. Some porosity as made.

The Charles Litman Collection, PCAC sale #72, December 6, 2003, lot 126. (Not from the Litman Collection itself.)

   HT 56       Low 45       MS 65 BN       R-1   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm. The wreath has five berries inside, three outside (one opposite second E in DEFENCE). Details...

Very well struck and very attractive. Uniform chocolate brown toning overall.

Ex. Richard Gross Collection.

   HT 56 Counterstamp       Low 45       VF-35       R-9   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm.

"W.S." counterstamp on both obverse and reverse. The wreath has five berries inside, three outside (one opposite second E in DEFENCE).

   HT 57       Low 46       UNC 63       R-1   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1837. Copper. 28mm.

Choice brown uncirculated. Glossy and lustrous but very little cartwheel effect. Reddish tan and light brown with some iridescence. Needle sharp strike on both obverse and reverse.

   HT 58       Low 69       UNC 65       R-1   

Liberty - Not One Cent. 1841. Copper. 28mm. HT 56, 57 58, 61 and 62 are Scovill strikes. Details...

Brown and irridescent surfaces. Very well struck with georgeous tones of gold and green blending to brown.

Ex. Richard Gross Collection.

   HT 59       Low 70       UNC 63       R-7   

Liberty - Not One Cent. Bushnell fantasy. 27.9mm. 9.1 grams. Copper. The wreath has three berries outside and four inside; the berries are larger and letters smaller. Details...

Uncirculated, with lightly oxidized surfaces. Stacks Ford: An extremely rare issue with only 5 auction appearances since 1958.

The Charles Litman Collection, PCAC sale #72, December 6, 2003, lot 57.
Probably Ex. Donald Miller Collection.

   HT 60       Low 71       AU-58       R-7   

Liberty - Not One Cent. Bushnell fantasy. 28mm. 9.5 grams. Copper. A small six-pointed star has beem added on each side of FOR and one small berry to inside of wreath. Details...

About Uncirculated with light oxidation throughout over a medium brown patina. On reverse, the C in DEFENCE is barely visible. Liberty Head with roses and leaves. Stacks Ford: Jjust as extremely rare as Low 70 with well under 10 pieces known.

The Charles Litman Collection, PCAC sale #72, December 6, 2003, lot 58.
Probably Ex. Donald Miller Collection.

Copyright © 2006 Alan S. Fisher. All rights reserved.