Post Pics Of Your Hard Times Tokens

An as yet unlisted HT piece, a counterstamp on an 1805 cent ...





Notes from my database ....

DAVID G. BENTLEY, WAS THE SON OF A REVERED MINISTER, D.N. BENTLEY OF NORWICH, CONNECTICUT. HIS FATHER, ALSO A TRAINED GOLDSMITH AND AN ENTREPRENEUR, APPEARS TO HAVE WORKED WITH HIM. DAVID DIED AT A YOUNG AGE. HIS FATHER SOLD THE BUSINESS TO A BOSTON MERCHANT, PER AN AD THAT APPEARED IN MID 1842. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PATENT RECORD FOR THESE PERISCOPIC GLASSES.

Here's the ad, mentioned above, extracted from American Mechanic, 1842 (note - Bentley is misspelled) ....

This turned out to be an awesome thread!! Sorry I was a bad host. I didn't subscribe to updates and forgot about it.

Keep them coming. I'm amazed at how many different coin types comprise this segment of our history. Definitely worth more researching, and perhaps an undervalued segment of numismatics?

The Catley counterstamp issue (Brunk # C-291) is one that's long puzzled me. There are at least six specimens that have surfaced; this, with the latest host coin dated 1852. I have two of them, both hosted upon 1831 large cents. The below pictured piece also bears the stamp of a pipe. Brunk mentions that a pipe stamp was used by metal workers, so the implication is that Catley pursued that trade.

To date, I've found but one potential issuer for this stamp. One Thomas Catley (note the lack of a middle initial) operated a boarding house at 100 Jane Street in NY City. He is listed in an 1850 city directory. Possibly, he had another occupation which wasn't at all unusual.

It's most likely that all the stamps were applied in the 1850's. It's interesting to note that some, if not all specimens bear tiny triangular punchmarks in addition to the T. CATLEY name.

Yes, Brummagem. Cool find on the ad! I just double-checked. Brunk listed seven specimens, the last of which was an 1852 large cent. He also listed my two 1831's and another, unknown large cent. There are two Hard Times tokens and a Connecticut cent that bear this counterstamp as well. More specimens may appear in his next edition.

This may or may not be the same Thomas Catley, owning a tavern in 1839 and a boarding house in 1850. It quite likely is the same guy, I'd say, if not a son. There's really no telling if the ones dated prior to 1852 are exclusive to the HT era. It's possible that Brunk made an error in the listing, perhaps misreading 1852 from 1832? Misteaks happen! It's also possible that someone reused and applied the stamp well beyond the era in which it originally saw use. This phenomenon isn't exclusive to counterstamps. Coin and token dies were likewise reused.

BTW .... a belated welcome to the CCF!

Here's a U.S. Hard Times token with a Canadian counterstamp ....

HT-20