(1860) Civil War Patriotic Token F-238/402a, Monitor

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 238, the USS Monitor, the Union's revolutionary iron-turreted warship whose battle with the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862 was the first clash of ironclads and captured the Northern public's imagination — the Monitor became one of the most popular subjects on patriotic tokens, with reverse die 402 bearing the USS Monitor, the Union's revolutionary ironclad warship. The Monitor's March 1862 battle with the CSS Virginia captured the Northern imagination. USS Monitor obverse dies captured the Northern public's fascination with the revolutionary ironclad that fought the CSS Virginia at Hampton Roads on March 9, 1862. The Monitor's distinctive low profile and revolving turret made it an instantly recognizable and popular token subject. Copper tokens matched the size of the federal cent closely enough to pass in change during the 1862-1864 shortage. Produced in 1860.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 238/402a. Die pairing: obverse 238, reverse 402. The Fuld rarity scale runs from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (believed unique).

Cross References

Fuld 238/402a