(1864) Lead Civil War Patriotic Token F-146/283, Rhode Island First In The Field

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 146, a political figure or patriotic design from the Civil War era, with reverse die 283 bearing the inscription "UNION". The single word "UNION" distilled the Northern war aim to its essence. Civil War patriotic tokens were privately struck cent-sized pieces that circulated as emergency currency during 1862-1864, when wartime hoarding drained federal coinage from commerce. Over 25 million patriotic tokens were produced before Congress banned private coinage in April 1864. Struck in lead, a scarce composition usually associated with trial strikes or presentation pieces. The soft metal preserves sharp die details but is easily damaged. 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.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 146/283. Die pairing: obverse 146, reverse 283. Lead strikes are scarce and often experimental or trial pieces. 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 146/283