(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-43/388a, 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 388 bearing a design featuring "Millions For Defence". Dies in this military obverse range capture the martial spirit of the Northern home front. Slogans, weapons, and military insignia dominate these designs, reflecting the public's intense focus on the progress and prosecution of the war. Struck in copper, the dominant metal for Civil War patriotic tokens. Copper pieces were accepted interchangeably with federal cents by merchants throughout the North. Bearing the date 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 43/388a. Die pairing: obverse 43, reverse 388. 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 43/388a