1861 Token DeWitt C-1861-11 Gilt-Brass Against Rebellion Campaign

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 MS64 11-30-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

This gilt brass political token from 1861, cataloged as DeWitt C-1861-11, carries the "Against Rebellion" theme and represents Union propaganda produced during the first year of the Civil War. The "Against Rebellion" motto expressed the Northern legal position that secession was unconstitutional and that the Confederacy was an illegal insurrection rather than a legitimate sovereign nation. This legal distinction was politically important because it determined whether the Union was fighting a foreign war or suppressing a domestic rebellion — with significant implications for the treatment of captured Confederates, the status of foreign recognition, and the ultimate terms of reunion. The gilt brass composition gave this token a golden appearance that elevated it above ordinary brass pieces, indicating it was produced for Union officers, government officials, or committed loyalists willing to pay a premium for a more impressive political accessory. Gilt "Against Rebellion" tokens document the Union's ideological framework for the war and the effort to maintain civilian morale during the early months of the conflict.

Rarity Notes

Gilt brass political token from 1861. DeWitt C-1861-11. "Against Rebellion" Union propaganda. Gilt finish is uncommon and adds to collectibility.

Cross References

PCGS #659412; DeWitt C-1861-11; Civil War; "Against Rebellion"; Union propaganda