What The Experts Say...

HT 63, Low 55

LOCO FOCO

The occurance to which allusion appears on this token was briefly mentioned in the introductory remarks. At a meeting in Tammany Hall, on the evening of 29 October, 1835, there was a split in the party over the Congressional nominee. The friends of each had endeavored to pack the meeting; great confusion attended the efforts of the chiefs and their followers to obtain control, amid which the fas was turned off, it was alleged throught the connivance of the janitor with one fraction. Their opponents, however, if they did not themselves instigate the move, were equal to the occasion, and somewhat singularly, had come prepared with loco-foco matches and candles, and the room was speedily relighted. The Morning Courier and New York Enquirer dubbed the antimonopolists, who has used the matches, "Loco-focos," and the name speedily affixed to the whole Democratic party.

(Rulau 9th Edition)