(1864) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-129/144a, Lincoln-Grant

Coin Details

Auction Record

$360 MS62BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 129, a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, the wartime Commander-in-Chief whose image served as both political endorsement and patriotic rallying symbol, with reverse die 144 bearing a design featuring "Grant". Abraham Lincoln's portrait on patriotic tokens transformed everyday commerce into a political statement. These dies are among the scarcest and most valuable in the entire patriotic token series. The copper alloy used for this token matched the federal cent specification closely enough that these pieces passed freely in commerce during the coin shortage of 1862-1864. Produced in 1864. Patriotic tokens circulated freely throughout the Northern states from mid-1862 through 1864. Merchants accepted them alongside genuine federal cents, and many tokens show heavy wear consistent with extended use in commerce.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 129/144a. Die pairing: obverse 129, reverse 144. 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 129/144a