(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-169/213a, Peace Maker

Coin Details

Auction Record

$198 MS64BN 07-17-2019 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 169, a cannon design described by collectors as having "a marvelously expressive" quality conveying grim wartime humor, with reverse die 213 bearing a design featuring "Peace Maker". This obverse belongs to a diverse family of shield, artillery, and text-based designs. Die sinkers in this range experimented with both pictorial and typographic approaches to patriotic messaging on cent-sized tokens. Struck in copper, the most practical metal for tokens intended to fill the gap left by hoarded federal cents. Copper tokens survive in greater numbers than any other composition, reflecting their enormous production volumes. 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 169/213a. Die pairing: obverse 169, reverse 213. Copper is the most common composition, representing the majority of surviving specimens. 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 169/213a