(1864) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-46/339a, Liberty-Shield

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 MS66RB 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 46, a military or patriotic-themed obverse design, with reverse die 339 bearing a Union shield. The shield motif symbolized the defense of the republic. 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. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. Produced in 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.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 46/339a. Die pairing: obverse 46, reverse 339. 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 46/339a