(1864) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-146/283b, Rhode Island First In The Field

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 146, a political figure or patriotic design from the Civil War era, with reverse die 283 bearing the inscription "UNION". The single word "UNION" distilled the Northern war aim to its essence. Patriotic tokens filled the currency vacuum created when Americans hoarded federal coins after the suspension of specie payments in December 1861. Die sinkers and token manufacturers stepped in to supply the cent-sized pieces that commerce demanded. Struck in brass, a less common composition that gave the token a distinctive golden color distinguishing it from the copper standard. Bearing the date 1864. 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. Survival rates for patriotic tokens vary enormously by die combination, with some pairings known from thousands of examples and others from fewer than five specimens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 146/283b. Die pairing: obverse 146, reverse 283. 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 146/283b