(1863) White Metal Civil War Patriotic Token F-37/434, For Public Accommodation

Coin Details

Auction Record

$288 MS64 08-22-2018 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 37, a liberty cap design inscribed "FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION," one of the most commonly paired obverse dies, with reverse die 434 bearing a design featuring "For Public Accommodation". Dies in this military obverse range capture the martial spirit of the Northern home front. Slogans, weapons, and military insignia dominate these designs, reflecting the public's intense focus on the progress and prosecution of the war. The white metal composition gives this token a silvery appearance that contrasts with the more common copper issues. White metal is softer than copper, so surviving examples often show greater wear or softer strike details. Bearing the date 1863. New York City produced over half of all Civil War patriotic tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio (home of John Stanton and other prolific die sinkers).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 37/434. Die pairing: obverse 37, reverse 434. White metal (lead/tin alloy) strikes are scarcer than copper. 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 37/434