Hard Times token
Overall: 7/8 in. ( 2.2 cm )
Token; copper; depiction of a bald eagle with a shield on its chest, and arrows and a branch in its claws, on obverse, a ring of stars and a ring of garland on reverse; obverse "U.S. STANDARD WEIGHT & VAULE / 1837" reverse "HALF / CENT / WORTH / OF / PURE COPPER"
In 1837 and again in 1857, financial crises caused loss of confidence in paper money and widespread redemption of currency in coin. Banks were soon forced to suspend specie payments, and tokens and fractional notes had to serve as smaller change. In 1857, the United States eliminated the half cent.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.