(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-32/275a, Our Card

Coin Details

Auction Record

$288 MS66BN 08-11-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 32, a Liberty or freedom-themed allegorical design, with reverse die 275 bearing the inscription "OUR CARD". A self-referential legend treating the token as a calling card. This obverse belongs to a family of military-themed dies spanning slogans, weapons, and patriotic declarations. The variety of designs in this range shows how die sinkers competed to capture the wartime public's appetite for patriotic imagery. 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. Produced in 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 32/275a. Die pairing: obverse 32, reverse 275. 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 32/275a