(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-18/337a, Our Navy

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 18, 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 337 bearing the inscription "OUR NAVY" within a wreath. A salute to the Union Navy, which maintained the blockade of Southern ports that strangled Confederate commerce. The French Liberty obverse belongs to the largest die family in the patriotic token series. Their classical design echoed the imagery found on contemporary French coins and medals, providing a cosmopolitan look that set them apart from cruder token designs. Produced in copper, the workhorse metal of Civil War token production. The cent-sized format and familiar copper color allowed these pieces to circulate alongside genuine federal coinage without hesitation. Produced in 1863. Collectors classify these tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique obverse and reverse die combination. Rarity ratings range from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 18/337a. Die pairing: obverse 18, reverse 337. 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 18/337a