Hard Times Token - Andrew Jackson / Jackass ND

Reverse

Donkey facing left

Script: Latin

Lettering:
THE CONSTITUTION
· AS I UNDERSTAND IT ·
ROMAN FIRMNESS
LL.D.
VETO

Unabridged legend: Legum Doctor

Edge

Plain

Comment

This token was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1834. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods, including tokens. It was made in copper and gilt copper (HT-70A). This “hard times token” mocked President Andrew Jackson for his economic policies.
 The image on obverse expressed contemporary fears that it was dangerous that the executive could control both the army and the treasury.
 The reverse image is because Harvard gave him an honorary LL.D., he was then portrayed as a Jackass with an LL.D. on its side.
 “I take the responsibility” is what Jackson said when he put the Bank of the United States funds into 25 pet state banks. “The Constitution as I understand it” was his explanation of why he took the anti-federalist stance of putting the money into State banks. Roman firmness was a jibe of the day to describe him. The word VETO below the Jackass referred to his veto of the third bank of the United States.