(1864) Civil War Patriotic Token F-241/336a, Our Navy

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 241, a naval, Monitor, or patriotic design, with reverse die 336 bearing the inscription "OUR NAVY" within a wreath. A salute to the Union Navy, which maintained the blockade of Southern ports that strangled Confederate commerce. This die range includes naval subjects, constitutional themes, Masonic imagery, and commercial designs. The diversity reflects the wide range of interests and loyalties expressed through the Civil War token medium, from military patriotism to fraternal and commercial concerns. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. Produced in 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 241/336a. Die pairing: obverse 241, reverse 336. Copper is the most common composition, representing the majority of surviving specimens. 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 241/336a