(1861-65) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-252/271b, Masonic

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 MS64 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 252, a Masonic compass-and-square design reflecting the prominent role of fraternal lodges in Northern civic life, with reverse die 271 bearing a design featuring "No Slavery". 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. Dated 1861-65. Die sinkers produced patriotic tokens on hand-operated screw presses capable of striking several hundred pieces per hour. The largest manufacturers maintained multiple presses and employed teams of workers to meet the enormous wartime demand.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 252/271b. Die pairing: obverse 252, reverse 271. 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 252/271b