(1863) German-Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-91/435j, United We Stand

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 91, an Indian Head design commonly paired with "NO COMPROMISE WITH TRAITORS" and "ARMY & NAVY" reverses, with reverse die 435 bearing the motto "UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL". This proverb, attributed to Aesop, took on urgent meaning during the secession crisis. The Indian Head obverse deliberately copied the federal cent design to maximize public acceptance. These tokens were so convincing that many survive today mistakenly identified as genuine federal cents rather than privately issued substitutes. 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 91/435j. Die pairing: obverse 91, reverse 435. 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 91/435j