(1864) Civil War Patriotic Token F-127/294b, Lincoln-Freedom

Coin Details

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 294 bearing the inscription "FREEDOM". An aspirational reverse linking the Union cause to the broader principle of human liberty. Lincoln obverse dies are prized by collectors for their direct connection to the wartime president. These tokens served both as emergency currency and as portable political endorsements of the Union cause and its leader. The brass composition, while less common than copper, produced tokens with a distinctive yellow-gold appearance. Waterbury, Connecticut — the brass capital of America — supplied much of the raw material for token production. Bearing the date 1864. Die sinkers produced patriotic tokens on hand-operated screw presses capable of striking several hundred pieces per hour. The largest manufacturers maintained multiple presses and employed teams of workers to meet the enormous wartime demand.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 127/294b. Die pairing: obverse 127, reverse 294. 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 127/294b