(No Date) Civil War Patriotic Token F-299/350b, Army & Navy

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 299, a patriotic or political design from the Civil War era, with reverse die 350 bearing the inscription "ARMY & NAVY" within a laurel wreath, often with crossed sabers. This tribute to the Union military was one of the most popular reverse legends, appearing on dozens of die combinations. 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 brass, a less common composition that gave the token a distinctive golden color distinguishing it from the copper standard. Although undated, this token was manufactured during the 1862-1864 period when private tokens circulated as emergency currency. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 299/350b. Die pairing: obverse 299, reverse 350. 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 299/350b