(1844) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-481/489a, Hope/Game Birds

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 481, an allegorical figure of Hope depicted as a woman with an anchor, a neoclassical motif on English-made dies dated 1844 but used during the Civil War era, with reverse die 489 bearing a game birds design from the English-made Hope series. The Hope series uses English-made dies depicting allegorical figures including Hope with an anchor, genre scenes with animals, and the inscription "WAR OF 1861." These dies were manufactured in England and imported for use on Civil War-era tokens, giving them a distinctive artistic character. Produced in copper, the workhorse metal of Civil War token production. The cent-sized format and familiar copper color allowed these pieces to circulate alongside genuine federal coinage without hesitation. Dated 1844. Collectors classify these tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique obverse and reverse die combination. Rarity ratings range from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 481/489a. Die pairing: obverse 481, reverse 489. Copper is the most common composition, representing the majority of surviving specimens. The Fuld rarity scale ranges from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique); survival depends on the specific die combination, metal, and condition.

Cross References

Fuld 481/489a