(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-43/387a, Millions For Defence

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 43, a design bearing the defiant inscription "MILLIONS FOR DEFENCE NOT ONE CENT FOR TRIBUTE," a phrase from the XYZ Affair revived during the Civil War, with reverse die 387 bearing a design featuring "Millions For Defence". 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. Copper was the standard metal for patriotic tokens, chosen because cent-sized copper pieces could pass as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Produced in 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 43/387a. Die pairing: obverse 43, reverse 387. 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 43/387a