(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-208/410a, The Flag of Our Union

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 208, a design depicting the American flag circled by thirteen stars inscribed "THE FLAG OF OUR UNION," one of the most popular obverse die families, expressing loyalty to the national standard, with reverse die 410 bearing the inscription "OUR UNION". A personal and possessive declaration of loyalty to the Union. The flag obverse family ranked among the most prolific die groups. The stars-and-stripes design required no words to convey its message of Union loyalty, making it the most universally understood patriotic motif on Civil War tokens. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. Produced in 1863. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans began hoarding federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861, creating the currency vacuum that patriotic tokens filled.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 208/410a. Die pairing: obverse 208, reverse 410. 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 208/410a