(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-176/271a, First in War, First in Peace

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 176, 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 271 bearing a design featuring "No Slavery". Shield and cannon obverses in this die range drew on heraldic and military imagery to express Union loyalty. These designs were popular because their bold, simple motifs reproduced well on the small cent-sized planchet format. Produced in copper, the workhorse metal of Civil War token production. The cent-sized format and familiar copper color allowed these pieces to circulate alongside genuine federal coinage without hesitation. Bearing the date 1863. Collectors classify these tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique obverse and reverse die combination. Rarity ratings range from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 176/271a. Die pairing: obverse 176, reverse 271. 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 176/271a