(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-156/524a, Sewing Machines Neatly

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 156, a commercial design advertising "SEWING MACHINES NEATLY REPAIRED", with reverse die 524 bearing a design featuring "Sewing Machines Neatly". Civil War patriotic tokens were privately struck cent-sized pieces that circulated as emergency currency during 1862-1864, when wartime hoarding drained federal coinage from commerce. Over 25 million patriotic tokens were produced before Congress banned private coinage in April 1864. 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. Dated 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 156/524a. Die pairing: obverse 156, reverse 524. 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 156/524a