(1863) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-3/273b, Union Forever

Coin Details

Auction Record

$240 AU53 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 3, a French-style Liberty head facing left surrounded by thirteen stars, the most common obverse die family on Civil War patriotic tokens, with reverse die 273 bearing the legend "UNION FOR EVER". One of the most defiant slogans of the Northern cause, declaring an unshakable commitment to preserving the republic. The French Liberty head design was the workhorse of the patriotic token series. Die sinkers favored this classical motif because its resemblance to official currency increased merchant acceptance of privately produced cent substitutes. 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. Dated 1863. The end of the token era came swiftly in 1864 when Congress authorized new small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of a brief but remarkable chapter in American monetary history.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 3/273b. Die pairing: obverse 3, reverse 273. 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 3/273b