(1864) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-35/265a, The Union

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 35, a Liberty or freedom-themed allegorical design, with reverse die 265 bearing a design featuring "The Union". 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. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. Dated 1864. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans began hoarding federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861, creating the currency vacuum that patriotic tokens filled. These tokens preserve the political sentiments, commercial practices, and artistic traditions of the Civil War home front in a format small enough to carry in a pocket.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 35/265a. Die pairing: obverse 35, reverse 265. 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 35/265a