I Finally Found What I Was Looking For

[coinsbygary]

A long search finally yields for me the 1838 Hard-Times, Am I Not A Woman And A Sister Token.

 

Ive been on the prowl for the Hard-Times, Am I Not A Woman And A Sister token for some time. After looking through numerous E-Bay listings over time, Ive finally bought an example I am happy with. Most of the tokens I rejected were problem tokens or had a weakly struck date on the reverse. Many more were of a lower grade than I was seeking, and all were raw until now. This token is problem free with wear and toning that is consistent with its VF-30 grade.

 

The token was struck by Gibbs, Gardner & Company of Belleville, New Jersey in 1837 (dated 1838) during The Financial Panic of 1837. The token primarily circulated in New York and there are an estimated 500-1000 tokens that remain today. There is an accompanying, Am I Not A Man And A Brother token of which just three examples are known to exist.

 

My token is a near copy of a late 18th century Conder Token which circulated in Great Britain before slavery was abolished there. Hoping to lay the groundwork for an abolitionist movement in the United States the design of the Conder Token was adapted for use here. In the Red Book Guide of United States Tokens and Medals it is suggested that this token was the inspiration for Sojourner Truths famous 1851 speech, Aint I a Woman. Since she lived in New York she was likely familiar with these tokens that generally circulated from 1838-1843.

 

I have a lot of reasons for wanting this token, but the primary reason is that I have a good number of African-American friends, and I am trying to understand their perspective on American History as it pertains to slavery and race relations today. Therefore, this token will be the centerpiece of my research along with my 1860-O SS Republic shipwreck half-dollar. That ship laden with silver and gold was heading from New York to New Orleans when it sank in hurricane off the coast of Georgia. The money on board was intended by Northern investors to purchase land in the South during the re-construction period following the Civil War.

 

When I look at this token, it is a somber reminder to me of a people stripped of their dignity and basic human rights. The inspiration of this token then is as a symbol in the never ending struggle and will to be free. Therefore, this token will be included in my Inspirational Ladies custom set.

Gary

 

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[The Fielding Collection]

That is a very nice looking token and to my untrained eye deserves a better grade than VF-30 .I am very glad you were able to find this token to help complete your collection and understanding.

Happy Collecting And May God Bless ....Mike

[brg5658]

Lovely token Gary. I love old copper that is chocolatey like this. Great surfaces. (thumbs u

 

-Brandon

 

[jackson64]

Very nice color to your HTC-wonderfully detailed still for a VF.

 

I had been doing some reading recently about this interesting period of history Gary. Andrew Jackson taking up Jefferson's efforts to keep a central bank from intruding in our young country's money supply---read about the Whig party and their beliefs...the power of the Rothschilds and their clever manipulations of countries vs countries ( actually often funding both sides of wars). How banking and the money supply was such a factor in the follow-up war with britain in 1812 and the eventual cessation of hostilities after an agreement. And of course-the eventual formation of the Fed Reserve and IRS decades later in 1913 with the "progressives" and woodrow wilson giving away the power to print our own currency from the government to the central banks which Jackson fought against.

 

Fascinating and very critical period of history which have implications that span to our massive debt issues today.

[Yevrah1]

Sorry to go political, but if in 2000, had there been no change to the tax structure, no invading countries in wars of choice, unfunded Medicare Part D, etc, the National Debt might have been paid off. Thus nullifying "our massive debt issues today".

 

But taxes were cut twice, once after invading Afghanistan and Iraq. Medicare Part D was added thankfully, but with no ability for the US Govt to negotiate better prices. So a gift to Big Pharma and a burden to the debt.