(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-37/256a, Horrors of War

Coin Details

Auction Record

$312 MS65RB 05-29-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 37, a liberty cap design inscribed "FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION," one of the most commonly paired obverse dies, with reverse die 256 bearing the dramatic inscription "HORRORS OF WAR". This unflinching design acknowledged the enormous human cost of the conflict. Dies in this military obverse range capture the martial spirit of the Northern home front. Slogans, weapons, and military insignia dominate these designs, reflecting the public's intense focus on the progress and prosecution of the war. The copper alloy used for this token matched the federal cent specification closely enough that these pieces passed freely in commerce during the coin shortage of 1862-1864. Bearing the date 1863. Patriotic tokens circulated freely throughout the Northern states from mid-1862 through 1864. Merchants accepted them alongside genuine federal cents, and many tokens show heavy wear consistent with extended use in commerce.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 37/256a. Die pairing: obverse 37, reverse 256. 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 37/256a