(1860) Token DeWitt AL-1860-41K Copper Mule Railsplitter of the West Campaign

Coin Details

Description

This 1860 copper mule token, cataloged as DeWitt AL-1860-41K, combines the obverse die of the "Railsplitter of the West" Lincoln campaign token with a mismatched reverse die, creating a numismatic mule — a coin or token struck from two dies not intended to be paired together. Mules in the campaign token series occurred when die sinkers combined available dies in non-standard pairings, either accidentally or deliberately to create collector varieties. The "K" suffix in the DeWitt catalog designates this specific mule combination. The copper composition and mule status make this an uncommon variety within the extensive AL-1860-41 family. Campaign token mules are prized by specialist collectors because they represent production anomalies that reveal the manufacturing processes of nineteenth-century die sinkers. The limited production of mule combinations — typically a small run before the error was caught or a deliberate limited striking for collector interest — ensures that these pieces remain significantly scarcer than standard die pairings.

Rarity Notes

DeWitt AL-1860-41K. Copper mule variety. Significantly scarcer than standard die pairings. Mules are collected as production anomalies revealing manufacturing processes of Civil War era token makers.

Cross References

PCGS #922630; DeWitt AL-1860-41K (mule); 1860 Presidential Election; Abraham Lincoln