2009 Hard Times Token - Thomas Jefferson, Copper-Nickel, 183 Minted

Obverse: High-relief frontal portrait of Thomas Jefferson, with the legends "In Debt We Bust", and "No Credit".
Reverse: Jefferson Memorial (which happens to look a bit like Monticello), with the legends "Unlimited Stakes for America, and "Their Profits - Your Expense".

Thomas Jefferson did not trust bankers and he had a loathing for credit and the resulting interest charges. That is evident by his statement shown on the back of this token:

"Banking establishments are more dangerous than standing armies; ... the principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but swindling futurity on a large scale".

All of these tokens are over-struck on US Mint Jefferson Nickels (standard copper-nickel composition). As such, they will show evidence of the underlying design since it is never obliterated completely. All strikes of this token have a thin vertical die crack across face. Some have an obverse rim die break at 6:00. Certificate is included for orders placed at the $12 price. Final mintage is 183.