What The Experts Say...


HT 46R, Low 31.
LOW 31. Var. LIBERTY – NOT ONE CENT. HT 46R. 28mm. Copper.

This is an example of what some collectors call a 3 over 5 over-date. Rulau relates that it was discovered in 1996 by an English collector, Denton Curtis. Other collectors, notable Wesley S. Cox, believe otherwise. Rulau states, “Cox also has located two specimens of a partically filled “3” punch and argues that 46R may have resulted from a die breakdown rather than a die recutting.” In this connection, it is interesting to note that in his 1907 sale of the J.N.T. Levick collection, Thomas Elder listed two specimens of Low31; one with a broken 3 in the date and another, with a perfect 3 in the date – “Differences not mentioned by Low.”

(H. Joseph Levine, PCAC, The Charles Litman Collection, December 6, 2003)

This is an example of what some collectors call a 3 over 5 over-date. Rulau relates that it was discovered in 1996 by an English collector, Dennis Curtis. Other collectors, notably Wesley S. Cox, believe otherwise. Rulau states, "Cox also has located two specimens of a partially filled "3" punch and argues that 46R may have resulted from a die breakdown rather than a die recutting." In this connection, it is interesting to note that in his 1907 sale of the J.N.T. Levick collection, Thomas Elder listed two specimens of Low 31; one with a broken 3 in the date and another, with a perfect 3 in the date - "Differences not mentioned by Low."

(The Sara Hinckley Collection of Hard Times Tokens, PCAC Exonumia Auction #76, November 11, 2006)