(1862) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-57/467a, The Federal Government

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 MS64BN 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 57, a design inscribed "THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT", with reverse die 467 bearing a design featuring "The Federal Government". This obverse belongs to a family of military-themed dies spanning slogans, weapons, and patriotic declarations. The variety of designs in this range shows how die sinkers competed to capture the wartime public's appetite for patriotic imagery. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. Produced in 1862. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans began hoarding federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861, creating the currency vacuum that patriotic tokens filled. The token era demonstrated that private enterprise could fill a gap in the nation's monetary system when the government proved unable to maintain adequate circulating coinage.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 57/467a. Die pairing: obverse 57, reverse 467. 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 57/467a