06/23/2026
Hard Times Tokens are privately issued pieces that circulated in the United States primarily from 1833 through 1843, during an era of banking instability, coin shortages and economic hardship surrounding the Panic of 1837. Often similar in size to contemporary large cents, these fascinating tokens served as merchant advertisements, substitutes for scarce federal coinage and bold pieces of political commentary. Their designs frequently criticized Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, the banking system and other major issues of the period—making each token a miniature historical document you can hold in your hand.
Beantown Coins currently has a wide selection of Hard Times Tokens available, including political issues, presidential campaign pieces and scarce merchant tokens. Explore the collection at BeantownCoins.com or visit us in St. Petersburg, FL, to discover a tangible and highly collectible part of early American history!