(1864) German-Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-125/294j, Lincoln-Freedom

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,095 MS63 07-10-2023 eBay

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 125, a bust of George Washington, invoking the founding ideals of the republic to frame the Union cause as a continuation of the American Revolution, with reverse die 294 bearing the inscription "FREEDOM". An aspirational reverse linking the Union cause to the broader principle of human liberty. Washington obverse dies connected the Union cause to the nation's founding principles. The first president's portrait on Civil War tokens reminded Northerners that the republic Washington helped create was worth fighting to preserve. Struck in copper, the most practical metal for tokens intended to fill the gap left by hoarded federal cents. Copper tokens survive in greater numbers than any other composition, reflecting their enormous production volumes. Bearing the date 1864. The end of the token era came swiftly in 1864 when Congress authorized new small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of a brief but remarkable chapter in American monetary history.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 125/294j. Die pairing: obverse 125, reverse 294. 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 125/294j