(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-175/403a, First In War

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 175, a design featuring George Washington or the inscription "FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN," Henry Lee's famous eulogy adapted as a Union loyalty slogan, with reverse die 403 bearing the inscription "FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE, FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN". Henry Lee's famous 1799 eulogy of George Washington was adapted during the Civil War. This die group encompasses shield designs, cannon motifs, and text-based patriotic inscriptions. The variety of designs within this range demonstrates the creative range of Northern die sinkers who competed to produce the most appealing and saleable token designs. Struck in copper, the dominant metal for Civil War patriotic tokens. Copper pieces were accepted interchangeably with federal cents by merchants throughout the North. Dated 1863. New York City produced over half of all Civil War patriotic tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio (home of John Stanton and other prolific die sinkers).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 175/403a. Die pairing: obverse 175, reverse 403. 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 175/403a