(1861-65) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-481/493Aa, Hope/War of 1861

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 493A bearing the inscription "WAR OF 1861". Die 493A is a variant of die 493 from the English-made Hope series. The English-made Hope dies stand apart from domestically produced patriotic tokens in both artistic style and subject matter. Their allegorical imagery — figures representing Hope, Fortune, and other classical virtues — reflects the British tradition of finely engraved token dies. Produced in copper, the workhorse metal of Civil War token production. The cent-sized format and familiar copper color allowed these pieces to circulate alongside genuine federal coinage without hesitation. Produced in 1861-65. Collectors classify these tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique obverse and reverse die combination. Rarity ratings range from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 481/493Aa. Die pairing: obverse 481, reverse 493A. 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 481/493Aa