(1863) Civil War Patriotic Token F-5/288a, God Protect The Union

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 MS66RB 07-28-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 5, a French-style Liberty head facing left surrounded by thirteen stars, the most common obverse die family on Civil War patriotic tokens, with reverse die 288 bearing the inscription "GOD PROTECTS THE UNION". This invocation of divine Providence reflected the religious dimensions of the conflict. French Liberty head dies were produced in greater quantity than any other obverse family. The neoclassical bust of Liberty, inspired by French medallic art, lent an air of official authority to these privately manufactured emergency coins. Copper was the standard metal for patriotic tokens, chosen because cent-sized copper pieces could pass as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Bearing the date 1863. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 5/288a. Die pairing: obverse 5, reverse 288. 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 5/288a