(1863) German Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-1/359j, Not One Cent

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 1, 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 359 bearing the provocative legend "NOT ONE CENT" within a wreath. This seemingly contradictory inscription acknowledged the token had no legal-tender status while it simultaneously served as a cent substitute in everyday commerce. The French Liberty head was the most prolific obverse die family, with nearly thirty die varieties. These dies were cut by multiple manufacturers, primarily in New York City, and their classical design gave the tokens a dignified appearance that encouraged public acceptance. Struck in German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy also called nickel silver), a scarce composition for Civil War tokens. The silvery appearance gave these pieces a more precious look than standard copper issues. Produced in 1863.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 1/359j. Die pairing: obverse 1, reverse 359. German silver (nickel silver) strikes are scarce. 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 1/359j