(No Date) Civil War Patriotic Token F-281/468b

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 MS62 01-12-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 281, a patriotic or political design from the Civil War era, with reverse die 468 bearing a patriotic wreath or inscription reverse. Civil War patriotic tokens were privately struck cent-sized pieces that circulated as emergency currency during 1862-1864, when wartime hoarding drained federal coinage from commerce. Over 25 million patriotic tokens were produced before Congress banned private coinage in April 1864. 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 token was struck during the Civil War coin shortage era of 1862-1864, when most patriotic token production occurred. 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 281/468b. Die pairing: obverse 281, reverse 468. 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 281/468b