(1864) Civil War Patriotic Token F-54/342a, Union For Ever

Coin Details

Auction Record

$204 MS65RB 05-29-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 54, a design featuring Benjamin Franklin's maxim "A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED", 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. Struck in copper, the dominant metal for Civil War patriotic tokens. Copper pieces were accepted interchangeably with federal cents by merchants throughout the North. Dated 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 54/342a. Die pairing: obverse 54, 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 54/342a