Description
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Title / Series: Red Book Series #17: A Guide Book of Hard Times Tokens — History, Values, Collecting. Whitman Publishing.
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Authors: Q. David Bowers & Robert A. Schuman.
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Subject: Hard Times Tokens (political and commercial tokens, store cards, etc.) from about 1832-1844. These were privately minted tokens used during “Hard Times” in U.S. history (economic/political crisis era).
Key Contents & Features
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Provides history of the era: economic & political setting (bank failures, currency & coin shortages, public unrest), how and why these tokens arose.
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Detailed catalog of classical varieties: political tokens, store cards, “merchant issues”, and satirical designs. Includes illustrations/photos to help with identification.
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Rarity & value data in multiple grades. Helps collectors understand which varieties are rare, which are common, and what premiums exist.
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Full-color format; solid reference for both new and experienced collectors. Designed for collectors of exonumia (coins & tokens not official U.S. Federal coins).
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Pages | ~ 320 pages. |
| Size / Format | Paperback / trade softcover; approx. 6 × 9 inches. |
| Full Color | Yes — includes high resolution photos. |
| ISBN | 978-0794842956 |
| Pub Date | 2015 (first published in this edition) |
Why It’s Valuable to Collectors
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For collectors of exonumia and early U.S. tokenage, this book is essential: not many references are as thorough for Hard Times Tokens.
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Helps in identifying subtle variety differences (mint marks, die doublets, design quirks) which often add premium.
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Useful for grade-comparisons & price expectations—those rare pieces (with good condition) can command much higher value.
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Includes photos so it aids visual identification — helpful when coins/tokens are worn or altered.
