I created this site with several objectives in mind. First, as a showcase for the collection I've spent 23 years building. Second, as a repository for interesting articles and materials about hard times tokens and the hard times era. And third, as a clearinghouse of sorts for other collectors.

My collecting story is fairly typical. After amassing about 90 unique varieties between 1978 and 1981, I consigned them to the Bowers & Ruddy's Springfield sale in September, 1981. That was a big mistake! While Bowers & Ruddy did a great job selling my collection, I had been bitten by the HTT bug and promptly began rebuilding the collection. What you see on this website today is that second collection I've been building for the last 22 years.