(No Date) Civil War Patriotic Token F-242/374a

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 242, a patriotic or political design from the Civil War era, with reverse die 374 bearing a patriotic wreath or inscription reverse. These privately manufactured cent-sized tokens served as emergency coinage throughout the North from 1862 to 1864. Their production was an entrepreneurial response to the wartime disappearance of federal small change from everyday commerce. Struck in copper, the most practical metal for tokens intended to fill the gap left by hoarded federal cents. Copper tokens survive in greater numbers than any other composition, reflecting their enormous production volumes. 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 242/374a. Die pairing: obverse 242, reverse 374. Copper is the most common composition, representing the majority of surviving specimens. 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 242/374a