(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-34/276a, Union-Our Card

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 34, a plain utility die used for "Our Card" token combinations, with reverse die 276 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. Struck in copper, the dominant metal for Civil War patriotic tokens. Copper pieces were accepted interchangeably with federal cents by merchants throughout the North. Produced in 1863. New York City produced over half of all Civil War patriotic tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio (home of John Stanton and other prolific die sinkers).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 34/276a. Die pairing: obverse 34, reverse 276. 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 34/276a