(1863) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-80/351b, Indian-Crossed Cannons

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 80, an Indian Head design modeled after James B. Longacre's federal cent, the most popular obverse family for patriotic tokens because its resemblance to official coinage helped these privately struck pieces gain public acceptance, with reverse die 351 bearing crossed cannons with a drum, flags, and liberty cap. This military vignette was a popular and visually striking reverse design. The Indian Head obverse family capitalized on the recognizable federal cent design. These were among the most commercially successful patriotic tokens because their similarity to government-issued cents made them virtually indistinguishable in pocket change. The brass composition, while less common than copper, produced tokens with a distinctive yellow-gold appearance. Waterbury, Connecticut — the brass capital of America — supplied much of the raw material for token production. Bearing the date 1863.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 80/351b. Die pairing: obverse 80, reverse 351. 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 80/351b