(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-36/271a, Liberty and No Slavery

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 36, a shield and flags design with the anti-slavery inscription "LIBERTY AND NO SLAVERY" — the only patriotic CWT die with an explicit reference to slavery, cut by George Glaubrecht, with reverse die 271 bearing a design featuring "No Slavery". 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 36/271a. Die pairing: obverse 36, reverse 271. 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 36/271a