(1864) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-124/201b, Lincoln-Our Union

Coin Details

Auction Record

$576 MS64 06-23-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 124, a bust of George Washington, invoking the founding ideals of the republic to frame the Union cause as a continuation of the American Revolution, with reverse die 201 bearing the inscription "OUR UNION". A personal and possessive declaration of loyalty to the Union. Washington obverse dies connected the Union cause to the nation's founding principles. The first president's portrait on Civil War tokens reminded Northerners that the republic Washington helped create was worth fighting to preserve. Brass tokens stand out from the copper majority with their warm golden hue. The brass industry centered in Waterbury, Connecticut provided ready access to this alloy for New England token manufacturers. Bearing the date 1864. 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 124/201b. Die pairing: obverse 124, reverse 201. Brass strikes are less common 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 124/201b