2013 Finalist National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Collection Highlights

Study for "Departure of the Seventh Regiment for the War, April 19, 1861"
c. 1865-69
1946.174
Oil over graphite on brown paper, varnished, laid on heavy board, nailed and mounted on a wood panel
Artist/Maker: Thomas Nast

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collections > Luce Center > Hard Times token: Smith's Clock Establishment, 1837

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Hard Times token: Smith's Clock Establishment, 1837

Hard Times token: Smith's Clock Establishment, 1837
Hard Times token: Smith's Clock Establishment, 1837
Object name 
Hard Times token: Smith's Clock Establishment, 1837
Date 
1837
Medium 
Copper
Dimensions 
Overall: 1 1/8 in. ( 2.9 cm )
Description 
Token; copper; depiction of a clock with Roman numerals, with the time reading 10:14, on obverse; obverse "TIME / IS / MONEY" reverse "SMITHS / CLOCK / ESTABLISHMENT / No 7 1/2 / BOWERY / NEW YORK / 1837"
Object Number 
INV.13769
Gallery Label 
In 1837 and again in 1857, financial crises caused loss of confidence in paper money and widespread redemption of currency in coin. Banks were soon forced to suspend specie payments, and tokens and fractional notes had to serve as smaller change.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.