(1861-65) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-481/491a, Hope/Dog & Duck

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 481, an allegorical figure of Hope depicted as a woman with an anchor, a neoclassical motif on English-made dies dated 1844 but used during the Civil War era, with reverse die 491 bearing a dog and duck scene. Hope series dies were produced in England, where the token-making tradition stretched back centuries. The British-manufactured dies feature finer engraving than most domestically produced patriotic token dies, with allegorical imagery drawn from European medallic art traditions. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. Bearing the date 1861-65. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans began hoarding federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861, creating the currency vacuum that patriotic tokens filled.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 481/491a. Die pairing: obverse 481, reverse 491. 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 481/491a