(1864) White Metal Civil War Patriotic Token F-131/217e, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 131, a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln — tokens bearing his likeness are among the most sought-after Civil War patriotic issues, with reverse die 217 bearing the inscription "LONG MAY IT WAVE". From Francis Scott Key's "Star-Spangled Banner." Lincoln obverse dies are prized by collectors for their direct connection to the wartime president. These tokens served both as emergency currency and as portable political endorsements of the Union cause and its leader. Struck in white metal (a lead-tin alloy), producing a silvery appearance. White metal tokens are scarcer than copper and often show softer details due to the alloy's lower hardness. Bearing the date 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 131/217e. Die pairing: obverse 131, reverse 217. White metal (lead/tin alloy) strikes are scarcer than copper. 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 131/217e