Token opposing President Martin Van Buren and Jacksonian fiscal policy, c. 1837. Copper. DeWitt CE 1838-13. Low 44. HT-69. OBV: Around, VAN BUREN METALLIC CURRENCY 1837, enclosing wrecked ship inscribed, EXPERIMENT. REV: Bust of Jackson in safe, sword in right hand, money bag in left; around, I TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY.
HT-69 is a hybrid, the obverse being the reverse of HT-21 (CE 1838-5), muled with the obverse an earlier anti-Jackson token, HT-70 (CE 1834-16). We have seen only a few in 25 years, none grading higher than the present example, which shows iridescent red toning and sharp devices.
The economic crisis during Van Buren's administration (Panic of 1837) inspired an array of tokens, issued by the opposition, collectively known as Hard Times tokens, some of which were actually put into circulation as tender due to the shortage of hard currency. The newly formed Whig Party made political hay out of the crisis, blaming it on Democrats and Jacksonian fiscal policies.
