(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-85/431a, Value Me As You Pleas

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 AU50BN 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 85, a design inscribed "VALUE ME AS YOU PLEASE", with reverse die 431 bearing the inscription "UNION". The single word "UNION" distilled the Northern war aim to its essence. 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. 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. Bearing the date 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 85/431a. Die pairing: obverse 85, reverse 431. 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 85/431a