(1864) Civil War Patriotic Token F-51/342a, Union For Ever

Coin Details

Auction Record

$80 MS63 08-22-2018 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 51, an Indian princess or Liberty head design with military inscriptions, with reverse die 342 bearing the legend "UNION FOR EVER". One of the most defiant slogans of the Northern cause, declaring an unshakable commitment to preserving the republic. This military and patriotic obverse die family encompasses a range of wartime themes — from specific slogans like "Millions for Defence" to general military tributes. These dies reflect the diverse patriotic sentiments expressed through the Civil War token medium. This copper striking represents the standard composition for patriotic tokens. Die sinkers chose copper because its properties — malleability, durability, and cent-like appearance — made it ideal for mass-produced emergency currency. Dated 1864. The Fuld catalog documents over 10,000 distinct die combinations for patriotic tokens, making this one of the most complex series in all of American numismatics. Many die pairings are known from only a handful of surviving specimens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 51/342a. Die pairing: obverse 51, reverse 342. 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 51/342a