(1863) Zinc Civil War Patriotic Token F-71/452i, Indian Head-10

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 71, 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 452 bearing the denomination "10 CENTS". Indian Head obverse dies were the second most popular family, closely imitating the design of the federal Indian Head cent introduced in 1859. By echoing James B. Longacre's official design, these tokens blurred the line between private and government coinage. Struck in zinc, an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. Bearing the date 1863. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans began hoarding federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861, creating the currency vacuum that patriotic tokens filled.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 71/452i. Die pairing: obverse 71, reverse 452. Zinc strikes are uncommon. 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 71/452i