(1863) German-Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-120/434j, The Washington Token

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 MS64 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 120, a George Washington portrait paired with the dramatic "HORRORS OF WAR" theme, with reverse die 434 bearing a design featuring "For Public Accommodation". Washington obverse dies connected the Union cause to the nation's founding principles. The first president's portrait on Civil War tokens reminded Northerners that the republic Washington helped create was worth fighting to preserve. 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. Bearing the date 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 120/434j. Die pairing: obverse 120, reverse 434. 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 120/434j