(1861) Copper-Nickel Civil War Patriotic Token F-260/447d, Concession Before Secession

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 260, a patriotic or political design from the Civil War era, with reverse die 447 bearing the inscription "CONCESSION BEFORE SECESSION". Patriotic tokens filled the currency vacuum created when Americans hoarded federal coins after the suspension of specie payments in December 1861. Die sinkers and token manufacturers stepped in to supply the cent-sized pieces that commerce demanded. The copper-nickel composition — the same alloy used for federal Indian Head cents from 1857 to 1864 — makes this a particularly faithful imitation of official government coinage. Bearing the date 1861. New York City produced over half of all Civil War patriotic tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio (home of John Stanton and other prolific die sinkers).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 260/447d. Die pairing: obverse 260, reverse 447. Copper-nickel is an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. 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 260/447d