(1861-65) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-508/509a, Breckinridge-Bell

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 508, a portrait of John C. Breckinridge, Vice President under Buchanan and the Southern Democratic presidential candidate in 1860, with reverse die 509 bearing a design featuring "Bell". The 1860 political campaign die series includes portraits of all four presidential candidates: Lincoln, Douglas, Bell, and Breckinridge. These campaign tokens, struck by Benjamin True of Cincinnati, also include provocative secession-themed designs that are paradoxically among the most prized by modern collectors. 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 508/509a. Die pairing: obverse 508, reverse 509. 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 508/509a