1863 Token F-120/255b GW-583 Brass G.W. - Knickerbocker Currency Patriotic

Coin Details

Description

The 1863 Civil War patriotic token F-120/255b (GW-583) in brass bears the legend "Knickerbocker Currency" on the reverse, paired with a Washington portrait obverse inscribed "G.W." The Knickerbocker Currency inscription references the distinctly New York identity associated with the term derived from Washington Irving's fictional Dutch historian Diedrich Knickerbocker. The "Knickerbocker Currency" legend identified these tokens as products of New York's commercial economy, where the shortage of federal small change was particularly acute due to the city's enormous volume of retail trade. New York was the largest producer and consumer of Civil War tokens. The brass composition and F-120/255b die combination create a specific collectible variety. The "G.W." obverse inscription is notably abbreviated compared to most Washington portrait dies, which typically spell out the full name.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 120/255b in brass. Knickerbocker Currency reverse. New York-issued.

Cross References

Fuld 120/255b; Musante-Baker GW-583; PCGS #655807