(1860) Civil War Patriotic Token F-255/393b, Knickerbocker

Coin Details

Auction Record

$120 MS65 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 255, a "KNICKERBOCKER CURRENCY" design referencing New York's Dutch colonial heritage, with reverse die 393 bearing a "KNICKERBOCKER CURRENCY" inscription. This design referenced New York's Dutch colonial heritage. Dies in this range encompass naval scenes, constitutional inscriptions, and fraternal symbols. The variety demonstrates that Civil War tokens served not only as emergency currency but also as miniature propaganda platforms for causes ranging from Union patriotism to fraternal solidarity. The brass composition, while less common than copper, produced tokens with a distinctive yellow-gold appearance. Waterbury, Connecticut — the brass capital of America — supplied much of the raw material for token production. Produced in 1860. New York City produced over half of all Civil War patriotic tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio (home of John Stanton and other prolific die sinkers).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 255/393b. Die pairing: obverse 255, reverse 393. Brass strikes are less common than copper. 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 255/393b