(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-250/437a, North Star

Coin Details

Auction Record

$408 MS63BN 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 250, a North Star design — the North Star guided runaway slaves northward on the Underground Railroad, lending this design abolitionist symbolism, with reverse die 437 bearing a design featuring "North Star". This die range includes naval subjects, constitutional themes, Masonic imagery, and commercial designs. The diversity reflects the wide range of interests and loyalties expressed through the Civil War token medium, from military patriotism to fraternal and commercial concerns. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. Bearing the date 1863. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans began hoarding federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861, creating the currency vacuum that patriotic tokens filled.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 250/437a. Die pairing: obverse 250, reverse 437. 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 250/437a