(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-155/431a, Union

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 155, a patriotic design inscribed "UNION", with reverse die 431 bearing the inscription "UNION". The single word "UNION" distilled the Northern war aim to its essence. These privately manufactured cent-sized tokens served as emergency coinage throughout the North from 1862 to 1864. Their production was an entrepreneurial response to the wartime disappearance of federal small change from everyday commerce. 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. Produced in 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 155/431a. Die pairing: obverse 155, reverse 431. 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 155/431a