Hard Times Token – Liberty, Stars 7 x 6 irregularly aligned / Not One Cent

Reverse

Laurel wreath with 6 berries inside and 3 outside of it. No stem from the outside berry opposite the first E in DEFENCE.

Script: Latin

Lettering:
MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE
NOT ONE CENT FOR TRIBUTE

Edge

Plain

Comment

HT-49 is R-1 with more than 1250 known. It has the same obverse and a similar reverse to HT-50. The difference is that on the reverse HT-49 has no stem connecting the outside berry opposite the first E in DEFENCE to the wreath. HT-50 has a stem connecting that berry to the wreath.
At a banquet celebrating the return of the U.S. ambassadors to France in 1798, South Carolina Representative Robert Goodloe Harper said in a toast “Millions for defense, not one cent for tribute”. This referred to the Americans refusal to pay diplomatic bribes to French officials, a common practice at the time. It became a motto for U.S. patriotism.
"Not One Cent" tokens were similar in appearance to the large cents of 1837. This resulted in allegations of counterfeiting, and they were likely discontinued by the end of the year.