Numismatic definitions
Like most fields of expertise, numismatics has its own lingo. Find the numismatic definition of a term by entering it in the field below.
Hard Times Token
copper piece the size of the large cent, issued in the USA, 1834-44, during a shortage of coins caused by the collapse of the Bank of the United States, the panic of 1837 and the economic crisis of 1839, the landmarks in the period known as the Hard Times. Banks suspended specie payments and the shortage of coinage was filled by tradesmen's tokens. Many of these were more in the nature of satirical medalets than circulating pieces.
