(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-258/446a, Trade & Commerce

Coin Details

Auction Record

$296 MS64RB 04-22-2024 eBay

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 258, a seated goddess personifying "TRADE AND COMMERCE", with reverse die 446 bearing a seated goddess of "TRADE AND COMMERCE". This allegorical design personified the commercial activity these tokens facilitated. This die range includes naval subjects, constitutional themes, Masonic imagery, and commercial designs. The diversity reflects the wide range of interests and loyalties expressed through the Civil War token medium, from military patriotism to fraternal and commercial concerns. This copper striking represents the standard composition for patriotic tokens. Die sinkers chose copper because its properties — malleability, durability, and cent-like appearance — made it ideal for mass-produced emergency currency. Dated 1863. The Fuld catalog documents over 10,000 distinct die combinations for patriotic tokens, making this one of the most complex series in all of American numismatics. Many die pairings are known from only a handful of surviving specimens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 258/446a. Die pairing: obverse 258, reverse 446. 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 258/446a