(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Patriotic Token F-254/434d, Money Makes The Mare Go

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 254, a striding figure carrying a sack of spilling coins inscribed "MONEY MAKES THE MARE GO" and "GO IT BUTTONS," referencing a sixteenth-century British nursery rhyme — die cut by William H. Bridgens of New York, with reverse die 434 bearing a design featuring "For Public Accommodation". This die range includes naval subjects, constitutional themes, Masonic imagery, and commercial designs. The diversity reflects the wide range of interests and loyalties expressed through the Civil War token medium, from military patriotism to fraternal and commercial concerns. Struck in copper-nickel, an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. The heavier copper-nickel alloy gave these pieces a silvery appearance and greater heft than standard copper issues. Produced in 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 254/434d. Die pairing: obverse 254, reverse 434. Copper-nickel is an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. 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 254/434d