(1864) Civil War Patriotic Token F-46/339b, Liberty-Shield

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 MS66RB 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 46, a military or patriotic-themed obverse design, with reverse die 339 bearing a Union shield. The shield motif symbolized the defense of the republic. Dies in this military obverse range capture the martial spirit of the Northern home front. Slogans, weapons, and military insignia dominate these designs, reflecting the public's intense focus on the progress and prosecution of the war. 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. New York City produced over half of all Civil War patriotic tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio (home of John Stanton and other prolific die sinkers).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 46/339b. Die pairing: obverse 46, reverse 339. 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 46/339b