(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-78/330a, Army & Navy

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 78, an Indian Head design modeled after James B. Longacre's federal cent, the most popular obverse family for patriotic tokens because its resemblance to official coinage helped these privately struck pieces gain public acceptance, with reverse die 330 bearing the inscription "ARMY & NAVY" within a laurel wreath, often with crossed sabers. This tribute to the Union military was one of the most popular reverse legends, appearing on dozens of die combinations. The Indian Head obverse deliberately copied the federal cent design to maximize public acceptance. These tokens were so convincing that many survive today mistakenly identified as genuine federal cents rather than privately issued substitutes. Copper was the standard metal for patriotic tokens, chosen because cent-sized copper pieces could pass as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Bearing the date 1863.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 78/330a. Die pairing: obverse 78, reverse 330. 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 78/330a