(1861-65) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-508/511a, John C. Breckinridge

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 511 bearing the satirical inscription "THE WEALTH OF THE SOUTH". These secession-themed pieces by Benjamin True of Cincinnati are paradoxically among the most collected Civil War tokens. Benjamin True of Cincinnati produced this political campaign die series featuring the 1860 presidential candidates. The series includes both pro-Union and pro-Southern designs, making it a unique numismatic record of the deeply divided political landscape on the eve of war. 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. Bearing the date 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 508/511a. Die pairing: obverse 508, reverse 511. 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 508/511a