(1863) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-9/406a, Proclaim Liberty

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 AU58BN 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 9, a French-style Liberty head facing left surrounded by thirteen stars, the most common obverse die family on Civil War patriotic tokens, with reverse die 406 bearing the inscription "PROCLAIM LIBERTY". This biblical phrase from Leviticus 25:10 is also inscribed on the Liberty Bell. The French Liberty obverse belongs to the largest die family in the patriotic token series. Their classical design echoed the imagery found on contemporary French coins and medals, providing a cosmopolitan look that set them apart from cruder token designs. This copper striking represents the standard composition for patriotic tokens. Die sinkers chose copper because its properties — malleability, durability, and cent-like appearance — made it ideal for mass-produced emergency currency. Dated 1863. The Fuld catalog documents over 10,000 distinct die combinations for patriotic tokens, making this one of the most complex series in all of American numismatics. Many die pairings are known from only a handful of surviving specimens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 9/406a. Die pairing: obverse 9, reverse 406. 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 9/406a