Collection Highlights
Old Christmas : from the Sketch book of Washington Irving
Date:
1878
Object Number:
LIB.PS2069.C4
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Hard Times Token: Bentonian Currency. Mint Drop 1837
Object Number:
INV.13749
Date:
1841
Medium:
Copper
Dimensions:
Overall: 1 1/8 in. ( 2.9 cm )
Description:
Token; copper; depiction of Lady Liberty surrounded by a ring of garland on obverse, ring of garland on reverse; obverse "E PLURIBUS UNUM / 1841" reverse "BENTONIAN CURRENCY / MINT / DROP / 1837"
Gallery Label:
"Bentonian Currency" was hard money as opposed to paper money. "Mint Drops" refers to the hard money of the Jackson and Van Burren. 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.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
