(1861-65) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-474/475a, Milk Check

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,280 MS64BN 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 474, a patriotic or political design from the Civil War era, with reverse die 475 bearing a "MILK CHECK" design. Civil War patriotic tokens were privately struck cent-sized pieces that circulated as emergency currency during 1862-1864, when wartime hoarding drained federal coinage from commerce. Over 25 million patriotic tokens were produced before Congress banned private coinage in April 1864. This copper striking represents the standard composition for patriotic tokens. Die sinkers chose copper because its properties — malleability, durability, and cent-like appearance — made it ideal for mass-produced emergency currency. Dated 1861-65. The Fuld catalog documents over 10,000 distinct die combinations for patriotic tokens, making this one of the most complex series in all of American numismatics. Many die pairings are known from only a handful of surviving specimens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 474/475a. Die pairing: obverse 474, reverse 475. 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 474/475a