Please Post Your Eagles On 19th Century US Tokens

As there's no denomination on this suspected "die trial", I'm hard-pressed to view this as "localized" as you say. Its intent, "Constitution and Union" was a broad-based political sentiment. I don't see how a piece like this would have circulated .... no advertising, no value cited.

The Moffet piece is a sharp specimen. Another Hard Times piece, bearing a backwards "N" (in uNited) is Low-54 or HT-81.

I like the pocket watches.

The "broad-based political sentiment" wouldn't necessitate broad circulation. The lack of advertising and in particular its being without a marked denomination are precisely why I'd think its distribution and use most likely had to be over a very limited locale (I'm thinking possibly a sparsely populated pro-Union area of a border state), where everybody could know and agree on its valuation. That's entirely speculation, of course, but I can't see it circulating too successfully elsewhere.

Here's an eagle that looks ready to pounce. He resides on an 1864 medal for then Lieutenant General Grant. Grant's victory at Vicksburg, the year prior, turned the tide of the war. This is a companion piece to the previously posted Lincoln political medal, also dated 1864.

This eagle looks more aggressive than most, virtually angry, it seems. The wings are raised, and the beak is open. To me, it looks as if the bird is yelling in anger. This scarce token or medalet was created for the Lincoln's 1860 election campaign. Note that Abe lacks a beard. I believe it's the only campaign piece that portrays a fill frontal view of Abe, as opposed to a profile (correct me if wrong, please). The legend, FREE LAND, FREE SPEECH, FREE MEN, may well have been an attempt to lay the groundwork for the abolition of slavery.

Agree, jbuck, a shame. As much as I enjoy finding beautiful pieces, the majority of my acquisitions were motivated by history and scarcity, it seems. This Lincoln medalet was among the majority. Had it been in higher grade, it may never have found its way into my cabinet.

Come to think of it, jbuck, our stamped avatar coins aren't all that pretty, either!

The 1837 Half Cent Token has long been among my favorites from the Hard Times era. The eagle is about as close in comparison to those on circulating coins as eagles pictured on other tokens. Judging from the many worn pieces I've seen over the years, these tokens served use in trade. Their design is well executed and artful, methinks. Here's one of the nicer examples I have. Note that there are no scratches on this one, jbuck!