Collection Highlights
Atom Bomb Hits New York City: Illustration for "Hiroshima, U.S.A." in Collier's, 5 August 1950, cover
1950
1956.7
Oil on paper laid on board
Support the New-York Historical Society
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nation's history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually.
Museum Collections
Luce Center
Hard Times token
Object name
Hard Times token
Date
1833
Medium
Metal
Dimensions
Overall: 1 1/8 in. ( 2.9 cm )
Description
Token; metal; depiction of a seated woman with a bald eagle, shield, ship, and spinning wheel, on obverse; obverse "AMERICAN INSTITUTE" reverse "COPY OF A MEDAL / AWARDED TO / ROBINSON'S / JONES & Co / FOR THE BEST / MILITARY, NAVAL / SPORTING, / & PLAIN FLAT / BUTTONS / 1833"
Object Number
Z.3112
Gallery Label
The Robinson's Jones & CO. recieved the American Institute medal for their metallic buttons in 1833, and issued these tokens to advertise the award. 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.
