(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-37/434a, For Public Accommodation

Coin Details

Auction Record

$104 MS64BN 09-23-2020 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 37, a liberty cap design inscribed "FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION," one of the most commonly paired obverse dies, with reverse die 434 bearing a design featuring "For Public Accommodation". This military and patriotic obverse die family encompasses a range of wartime themes — from specific slogans like "Millions for Defence" to general military tributes. These dies reflect the diverse patriotic sentiments expressed through the Civil War token medium. Copper was the standard metal for patriotic tokens, chosen because cent-sized copper pieces could pass as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Dated 1863. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 37/434a. Die pairing: obverse 37, reverse 434. 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 37/434a