(1864) Civil War Patriotic Token F-127/248d, Lincoln - O.K.

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,320 MS66 06-09-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 127, a clean-shaven portrait of President Abraham Lincoln surrounded by thirteen stars, the most common Lincoln obverse die — Lincoln tokens command premiums among collectors, with reverse die 248 bearing the inscription "O.K.". Abraham Lincoln's portrait on patriotic tokens transformed everyday commerce into a political statement. These dies are among the scarcest and most valuable in the entire patriotic token series. 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. Produced in 1864. Patriotic tokens circulated freely throughout the Northern states from mid-1862 through 1864. Merchants accepted them alongside genuine federal cents, and many tokens show heavy wear consistent with extended use in commerce.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 127/248d. Die pairing: obverse 127, reverse 248. 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 127/248d