(1864) White Metal Civil War Patriotic Token F-142/349e, Maj. Gen. Geo. B. McClellan

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 142, a uniformed bust of Major General George B. McClellan, the popular but cautious commander of the Army of the Potomac who ran against Lincoln in the 1864 presidential election, with reverse die 349 bearing a portrait or inscription referencing President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln tokens are among the most sought-after Civil War patriotic issues. George B. McClellan obverse dies reflected the general's complex legacy — beloved by his troops for his organizational genius but criticized for his excessive caution in battle. His 1864 presidential candidacy against Lincoln added political dimension to these already-patriotic tokens. 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. Produced in 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 142/349e. Die pairing: obverse 142, reverse 349. 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 142/349e