(No Date) Brass Civil War Patriotic Token F-202/434b, Tradesmens Currency

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 202, a design depicting the American flag circled by thirteen stars inscribed "THE FLAG OF OUR UNION," one of the most popular obverse die families, expressing loyalty to the national standard, with reverse die 434 bearing a design featuring "For Public Accommodation". Depicting the national flag encircled by stars, this obverse family expressed Union patriotism in its most direct visual form. Flag dies were paired extensively with different reverses, resulting in one of the largest variety families in the series. Produced in brass, giving this token a distinctive golden appearance compared to the more common copper strikes. Brass tokens typically survive in smaller numbers than their copper counterparts. This undated piece was produced circa 1862-1864, during the wartime coin shortage. The end of the token era came swiftly in 1864 when Congress authorized new small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of a brief but remarkable chapter in American monetary history.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 202/434b. Die pairing: obverse 202, reverse 434. 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 202/434b