Collection Highlights
William Walton (1706-1768)
ca. 1750
1902.3
Oil on canvas
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
Hard Times token: Union Steam Washing, N.Y. 1837
Object name
Hard Times token: Union Steam Washing, N.Y. 1837
Date
1837
Medium
Copper
Dimensions
Overall: 1 1/8 in. ( 2.9 cm )
Description
Token; copper; center of reverse is illegible; depiction of Lady Liberty, surrounded by a ring of stars, on obverse; obverse "E PLURIBUS UNUM / 1837" reverse "J.H. DAYTON'S UNION STEAM WASHING EST / 17TH ST NEAR 5TH AVENUE / WASHING / (illegible) / HOTELS & / PRIVATE FAMILIES"
Object Number
INV.13763
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.
