(1863) Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-178/267fo, The Federal Union

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 178, a design inscribed "THE FEDERAL UNION IT MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED," Andrew Jackson's famous 1830 anti-nullification toast adopted as a Civil War Union rallying cry, with reverse die 267 bearing the inscription "OUR UNION". A personal and possessive declaration of loyalty to the Union. Shield and cannon obverses in this die range drew on heraldic and military imagery to express Union loyalty. These designs were popular because their bold, simple motifs reproduced well on the small cent-sized planchet format. Struck in silver, a rare composition reserved for special orders or presentation pieces. Silver patriotic tokens were produced in tiny quantities for collectors and dignitaries. Bearing the date 1863. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 178/267fo. Die pairing: obverse 178, reverse 267. Silver strikes are rare presentation or special-order pieces. 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 178/267fo