(1863) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-427/480Ab, Eureka

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 VF30 06-09-2019 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 427, a patriotic design from East Boston, with reverse die 480A bearing a design inscribed "EUREKA". 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. Struck in brass, a less common composition that gave the token a distinctive golden color distinguishing it from the copper standard. Bearing the date 1863. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens. Survival rates for patriotic tokens vary enormously by die combination, with some pairings known from thousands of examples and others from fewer than five specimens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 427/480Ab. Die pairing: obverse 427, reverse 480A. 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 427/480Ab