(1863) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-37/434b, For Public Accommodation

Coin Details

Auction Record

$105 MS63 06-23-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 37, a liberty cap design inscribed "FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION," one of the most commonly paired obverse dies, with reverse die 434 bearing a design featuring "For Public Accommodation". 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. 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 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 37/434b. Die pairing: obverse 37, reverse 434. 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 37/434b