Beyond Official Minting: Collecting 18mm Medalets, Hard Times & Civil War Tokens Circa 1860–1885 (Exonumia Deep Dive)

Sometimes the unofficial money tells a better story than the official issues. I’ve spent years under the loupe, and I’ll say it plainly: the fringe of sanctioned coinage—tokens, medalets, and historical counterfeits—often carries more weight than any Philadelphia Eagle or Liberty Head dime. In this post, I’m pulling together a fascinating forum thread titled “Looking for examples of 18 mm medalets, circa 1860–1885” with the broader world of 19th-century American exonumia: Hard Times tokens, Civil War tokens, merchant tokens, and the fakes of the era.

Why 18mm Medalets Matter to the Exonumia Collector

From my own time grading and studying small-format pieces, the 18 mm medalet is a deceptively complex category. A fellow collector (jonathanb) recently launched a study of 18 mm medalets struck by the U.S. Mint, die-sinker William Key, and especially George Soley. He’s documented roughly 150 varieties—and admitted he doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. That humility is exactly what serious exonumia research demands.

These little bronze, brass, and silver pieces—often struck as souvenirs at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition and beyond—are numismatic microscopes into private enterprise at the Mint. Soley, for instance, bought an obsolete coining press and struck his own medals at the Centennial and later shows. One new member (lahave56) surfaced an 18.64 mm, 3.54 g piece marked “silver” from a deceased collector’s estate. It turned out to be a Soley “Lord’s Prayer” medalet, Abler 1440 variant, dated 1877. For me, its provenance and unexpected eye appeal made it a standout.

Key Reference Points for Soley Medalets

• Abler’s Centennial Medals: Reference #1440 lists the “Struck at the Exhibition” Lord’s Prayer piece in brass; silver and silver-plated versions exist despite not being catalogued. Their numismatic value hinges on surviving luster.
• Julian Listings: PR-37 and PR-38 Lincoln/Broken Column pairings; PR-38 is the only one seen on 20th-century restrikes.
• Smithsonian: CC0-public-domain images now let us compare examples like NMAH_1095269 (brass) for strike and patina.

Hard Times Tokens: The Proto-Exonumia of the 1830s–40s

While our forum focus is 1860–1885, no exonumia discussion is complete without Hard Times tokens (1832–1844). I’ve examined dozens attributed to Low’s numbers HT-1 through HT-300+. These copper privately issued pieces circumvented the specie crisis. Though earlier than the 18 mm medalets, they set the stage for merchant-made currency and built the collectibility of token money.

Authentication Markers for Hard Times Tokens

• Diameter typically 28–29 mm (larger than Soley’s 18 mm).
• Crude but deliberate die cuts; political slogans like “Millions for Defence, Not One Cent for Tribute.”
• Original surfaces show even brown patina; reproductions often exhibit sandy red casts that kill eye appeal.

Civil War Tokens: The 1860–1865 Explosion

The forum’s 1860–1885 window opens with Civil War tokens. In my collection, I prioritize the 1863 “Not One Cent” storecards. These 19 mm copper-nickel or bronze pieces directly precede the medalet era and show how scarce change fueled a token boom.

Subtypes Every Collector Should Know

1. Patriotic tokens: Union shields, cannons, “Army & Navy” legends.
2. Store cards: Merchant advertising (e.g., “A. H. ORTON / DRY GOODS”).
3. Encased postage: Not a token per se, but an exonumia cousin worth knowing.

Grading tip: FINE details on the reverse wreath separate a $15 token from a $150 one. I always check for repunching on the date—a known marker of original 1863 dies and a boost to mint condition appeal.

Merchant Tokens & The Soley Connection

Merchant tokens blossomed post-Civil War as small change stayed scarce. George Soley’s 18 mm medalets are essentially merchant-exhibition souvenirs. A forum member’s piece showed “Struck in the Main Building” / “Lord’s Prayer” paired with 1877 date—a Pennsylvania newspaper confirmed a 1877 international exhibition. That rare variety link still excites me.

Actionable Takeaways for Buyers/Sellers

• Weight test: Specific gravity beats XRF for silver vs. silver-plated (as MsMorrisine noted). XRF can read silver plating as solid due to elemental skew.
• Restrike alert: 20th-century Lincoln/Broken Column restrikes show matte “beige” fields; originals are dark with proof-like surfaces and better luster.
• Provenance: Estate envelopes marked “silver” are worth verifying—lahave56’s piece may be an undocumented silver Abler 1440 with strong collectibility.

Historical Counterfeits: The Shadow Collection

Counterfeits of the period were often contemporary—not modern fakes. I’ve handled 1880s “white metal” Soley copies that fooled novices. The forum correctly noted: “Authenticity isn’t a concern for these pieces. There are enough examples that it’s not worth anyone’s time to counterfeit them.” Still, historical counterfeits of Hard Times and Civil War tokens abound, and their patina can mislead.

How to Spot 19th-Century Counterfeits

• Soft legends from worn transfer dies.
• Incorrect alloy (lead-filled Civil War tokens).
• Seams at rim from cast copies vs. struck originals with clean strike.

Die Varieties & The Julian Correction Debate

jonathanb’s research highlights a critical point: even standard references err. He argues Julian’s PR-37 (incuse P on Lincoln’s truncation) doesn’t exist—a catalog ghost. Similarly, Abler 1440’s “1876” reverse mention is a copy-paste typo from another entry; “large beads” belongs to Abler 1450. As a collector, I keep a red pen for such errors that affect a rare variety’s status.

“I’m still planning to publish. I thought I was done. Then I found something else to add.” — jonathanb, on his forthcoming medalet book

Grading & Preservation of Small Medalets

At 18 mm, luster is everything. I grade Soley pieces on a 1–70 scale with emphasis on:

1. Field texture (matte vs. proof-like).
2. Plating integrity (worn-through silver plating is common and hurts eye appeal).
3. Edge nicks from Centennial handling that tell the provenance story.

Store in inert flips; PVC damage is irreversible on thin medalets and ruins mint condition.

Conclusion: The Enduring Pull of Exonumia

From Hard Times tokens to Soley’s 1877 silver Lord’s Prayer medalet, the unofficial money of 1830–1885 is where history breathes. The forum thread proved that open collector collaboration—paired with Abler, Julian, and Smithsonian CC0 images—can redefine a variety’s numismatic value. Whether you’re chasing an 18 mm Key, a Civil War store card, or a merchant token, remember: the die varieties are endless, the typos in references are real, and the thrill is in the hunt. I encourage you to photograph your medalets, test specific gravity, and share with the community. The next undocumented Abler 1440 might be in your padded flip box right now, waiting to show its strike and patina to the world.

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