(1860) Civil War Patriotic Token F-520/521a, Mine

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 AU55BN 01-12-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 520, a "MINE" design, representing mineral wealth or mining interests, with reverse die 521 bearing a mining or mineral-themed design. The 1860 political campaign die series includes portraits of all four presidential candidates: Lincoln, Douglas, Bell, and Breckinridge. These campaign tokens, struck by Benjamin True of Cincinnati, also include provocative secession-themed designs that are paradoxically among the most prized by modern collectors. Copper was the standard metal for patriotic tokens, chosen because cent-sized copper pieces could pass as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Dated 1860. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 520/521a. Die pairing: obverse 520, reverse 521. 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 520/521a