(1864) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-35/278a, Union

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 35, a Liberty or freedom-themed allegorical design, with reverse die 278 bearing the inscription "OUR CARD". A self-referential legend treating the token as a calling card. This obverse belongs to a family of military-themed dies spanning slogans, weapons, and patriotic declarations. The variety of designs in this range shows how die sinkers competed to capture the wartime public's appetite for patriotic imagery. 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. Produced in 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 35/278a. Die pairing: obverse 35, reverse 278. 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 35/278a