(1861-65) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-219/323b, The Federal Union

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 MS64 02-09-2022 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 219, a design inscribed "SHALL BE PRESERVED," completing Jackson's Federal Union quotation, with reverse die 323 bearing the inscription "OUR UNION". A personal and possessive declaration of loyalty to the Union. The "Federal Union" inscription dies transformed Jackson's 1830 toast into a rallying cry for the 1860s. These text-heavy obverses sacrificed artistic elaboration for maximum clarity of message, ensuring the words could be read even on well-worn tokens. Brass tokens stand out from the copper majority with their warm golden hue. The brass industry centered in Waterbury, Connecticut provided ready access to this alloy for New England token manufacturers. Produced in 1861-65. Patriotic tokens circulated freely throughout the Northern states from mid-1862 through 1864. Merchants accepted them alongside genuine federal cents, and many tokens show heavy wear consistent with extended use in commerce.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 219/323b. Die pairing: obverse 219, reverse 323. 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 219/323b