(No Date) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-143/261b, G.B. McClellan

Coin Details

Auction Record

$216 MS66 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 143, a portrait of General George B. McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac and 1864 Democratic presidential candidate — his image appeared on tokens from both supporters and detractors, with reverse die 261 bearing a portrait or inscription referencing General George B. McClellan. McClellan commanded the Army of the Potomac and ran against Lincoln in 1864. McClellan obverse dies captured the general at the height of his popularity with the Army of the Potomac. These tokens gained additional political significance when McClellan became the Democratic presidential nominee in 1864, challenging Lincoln for the presidency. The brass composition, while less common than copper, produced tokens with a distinctive yellow-gold appearance. Waterbury, Connecticut — the brass capital of America — supplied much of the raw material for token production. The absence of a date is common for Civil War patriotic tokens. Production occurred primarily during 1862-1864 when federal coinage disappeared from circulation.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 143/261b. Die pairing: obverse 143, reverse 261. Brass strikes are less common 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 143/261b