(1860) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-509/514a, Bell-Wealth of the South

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 509, a portrait of John Bell, the Constitutional Union candidate in 1860 who drew Whig and Know-Nothing support, with reverse die 514 bearing the provocative inscription "NO SUBMISSION TO THE NORTH". This Southern sympathizer legend appeared on Benjamin True's secession series. 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. Struck in copper, the most practical metal for tokens intended to fill the gap left by hoarded federal cents. Copper tokens survive in greater numbers than any other composition, reflecting their enormous production volumes. Dated 1860. The end of the token era came swiftly in 1864 when Congress authorized new small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of a brief but remarkable chapter in American monetary history.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 509/514a. Die pairing: obverse 509, reverse 514. 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 509/514a