Undated (1838) Agriculture and Commerce. HT-24, Low-66, DeWitt-CE 1838-18, W-11-740a. Rarity-2. Copper. Plain Edge. MS-63 BN (NGC). 27.8 mm. Medal alignment, with a slight clockwise rotation. This handsome piece is deeply toned in steely copper-brown. Sharply defined overall with a hard, smooth texture. This curious type is a muling of two dies made by John Gibbs, a token manufacturer in Belleville, New Jersey. The ship die was probably made for use on a Canadian token, not located, but similar in style. The ship details are nearly identical with those on the 1841 Webster Constitution tokens; the dies are probably from the same hand. The A FRIEND TO THE CONSTITUTION die with a cow probably reflects that agricultural interests (mentioned on the obverse) favored strict interpretation of the Constitution, unlike Jackson and Van Buren as viewed by their political adversaries. Survivors are typically Fine or VF, less of often EF, with higher grades rare. The primary Ford specimen was Mint State, although with minor rim problems, while the Dice-Hicks specimen was conservatively graded as Choice About Uncirculated and struck on a planchet with pale greenish-yellow color reminiscent of brass. This piece is an above average survivor of the type that is sure to catch the eye of astute Hard Times token enthusiasts.
