✅ SOLVED Found 1/4 clipped copper coin in an old park, Long Island, NY - What is it?

[Shakakka]

Hey all!

So I was metal detecting an old park yesterday on Long Island and found what looks to be a clipped coin. It's most assuredly copper and looks to be the right size as a large cent. However, the letters on the coin don't match up to any large cents I've ever seen.

One one side I can see the letters "ND" and what looks like a "T". It might be "AND" and "T".

On the other side I can see an "H" for sure, and it might be the word "THE"

The strange thing is that most coins have lettering that reads clockwise (the top of the letters facing the rim of the coin). This one reads counter-clockwise, with the bottom of the letters facing the rim of the coin.

Anyway, here are the pics. Two fresh out of the ground, and two with a little olive oil on them. Sorry, this thing is beat up. But it's really neatly clipped, as if someone wanted to pay with 1/4 of this coin so very many years ago.



Any help with identification would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

 

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[Bramblefind]

Cool find! I think it could be this Hard Times Token from the 1830s.

I grabbed the photo from this collector's site:

Steve's Coins - United States Tokens

 

[Shakakka]

That's it!!! It's definitely a hard times token! On the reverse I've got the "ND" and "IT" from "Understand it", and if you tilt it right I can see a line that makes up the ground that the donkey's walking on. On the front I've got "THE".

I wonder why someone clipped it?

Great job - you guys are good! (and fast!)

Thanks for the help -

 

[Anduril]

Times are tough for sure if you have to resort to cutting Hard Times Tokens to make change.

 

[nhbenz]

I'm often in awe of your ID's Bramblefind, but do tell, How in the world did you figure this out? Was it the donkey's legs?
Anyway, another great ID... if I were allowed to "like" it twice, I would.

 

[vhs07]

What a great ID!

 

[villagenut]

She should get an honorable mention for so many great solves