(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-15/319d, Army & Navy

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 15, 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 319 bearing the inscription "ARMY & NAVY" within a laurel wreath, often with crossed sabers. This tribute to the Union military was one of the most popular reverse legends, appearing on dozens of die combinations. The French Liberty obverse belongs to the largest die family in the patriotic token series. Their classical design echoed the imagery found on contemporary French coins and medals, providing a cosmopolitan look that set them apart from cruder token designs. The copper-nickel composition — the same alloy used for federal Indian Head cents from 1857 to 1864 — makes this a particularly faithful imitation of official government coinage. Produced in 1863. Die sinkers produced patriotic tokens on hand-operated screw presses capable of striking several hundred pieces per hour. The largest manufacturers maintained multiple presses and employed teams of workers to meet the enormous wartime demand.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 15/319d. Die pairing: obverse 15, reverse 319. Copper-nickel is an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. 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 15/319d