(1864) German-Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-127/428j, Lincoln-C.L.R.

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 127, a clean-shaven portrait of President Abraham Lincoln surrounded by thirteen stars, the most common Lincoln obverse die — Lincoln tokens command premiums among collectors, with reverse die 428 bearing a design featuring "C.L.R.". 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. Copper was the standard metal for patriotic tokens, chosen because cent-sized copper pieces could pass as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Produced in 1864. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens. The token era demonstrated that private enterprise could fill a gap in the nation's monetary system when the government proved unable to maintain adequate circulating coinage.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 127/428j. Die pairing: obverse 127, reverse 428. 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 127/428j