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

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 MS65 05-29-2019 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. Copper was overwhelmingly preferred for patriotic token production because it replicated the look, feel, and weight of federal Indian Head cents. Merchants rarely questioned copper tokens placed alongside genuine cents in the cash drawer. Dated 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 51/342j. 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 51/342j