(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-111/340a, Washington-Shield

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 111, a bust of George Washington, invoking the founding ideals of the republic to frame the Union cause as a continuation of the American Revolution, with reverse die 340 bearing a design featuring "No Slavery". George Washington obverse dies invoked the founding ideals of the republic, framing the Civil War as a continuation of the Revolution. Washington's image on tokens drew a direct line from 1776 to the struggle to preserve the Union his generation created. Struck in copper, the most practical metal for tokens intended to fill the gap left by hoarded federal cents. Copper tokens survive in greater numbers than any other composition, reflecting their enormous production volumes. Dated 1863. The end of the token era came swiftly in 1864 when Congress authorized new small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of a brief but remarkable chapter in American monetary history.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 111/340a. Die pairing: obverse 111, reverse 340. 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 111/340a