(1861) Civil War Patriotic Token F-147/227b, I Am Ready

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,600 MS64 06-09-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 147, a uniformed Wide-Awake supporter inscribed "I AM READY" — the Wide-Awakes were a Republican paramilitary organization that supported Lincoln's 1860 campaign, with reverse die 227 bearing a design featuring "I Am Ready". These privately manufactured cent-sized tokens served as emergency coinage throughout the North from 1862 to 1864. Their production was an entrepreneurial response to the wartime disappearance of federal small change from everyday commerce. Produced in brass, giving this token a distinctive golden appearance compared to the more common copper strikes. Brass tokens typically survive in smaller numbers than their copper counterparts. Produced in 1861. 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 147/227b. Die pairing: obverse 147, reverse 227. Brass strikes are less common than copper. 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 147/227b