(1863) German-Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-60/346j, Constitution and the Union

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 MS64 04-26-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 60, an Indian Head design modeled after James B. Longacre's federal cent, the most popular obverse family for patriotic tokens because its resemblance to official coinage helped these privately struck pieces gain public acceptance, with reverse die 346 bearing the inscription "THE CONSTITUTION". Constitutional references underscored the legal basis for opposing secession. Indian Head dies ranked second in popularity among patriotic token obverses. Die sinkers imitated Longacre's federal cent design because merchants and the public already trusted that familiar image in commerce. Produced in copper, the workhorse metal of Civil War token production. The cent-sized format and familiar copper color allowed these pieces to circulate alongside genuine federal coinage without hesitation. Bearing the date 1863. Collectors classify these tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique obverse and reverse die combination. Rarity ratings range from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 60/346j. Die pairing: obverse 60, reverse 346. 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 60/346j