(1861-65) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-220/327a, The Federal Union

Coin Details

Auction Record

$276 MS63BN 09-11-2019 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 220, a design inscribed "THE FEDERAL UNION IT MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED," Andrew Jackson's famous toast — one of the most common patriotic token inscriptions with over ten obverse die varieties, with reverse die 327 bearing the inscription "THE FEDERAL UNION IT MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED". This famous phrase originated as Andrew Jackson's toast during the 1830 Nullification Crisis and was revived as a powerful declaration of Union supremacy. "Federal Union" text dies carried Jackson's defining declaration of federal supremacy, adapted for a new generation facing the same existential threat to national unity. The text-only design allowed large, legible letters that made the political message unmistakable. Struck in copper, the dominant metal for Civil War patriotic tokens. Copper pieces were accepted interchangeably with federal cents by merchants throughout the North. Bearing the date 1861-65.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 220/327a. Die pairing: obverse 220, reverse 327. 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 220/327a