(No Date) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-506/511a, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 506, a clean-shaven portrait of Abraham Lincoln inscribed "FOR PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN OF ILL." — campaign tokens struck by Benjamin True of Cincinnati for the 1860 presidential election, with reverse die 511 bearing the satirical inscription "THE WEALTH OF THE SOUTH". These secession-themed pieces by Benjamin True of Cincinnati are paradoxically among the most collected Civil War tokens. The 1860 political campaign die series includes portraits of all four presidential candidates: Lincoln, Douglas, Bell, and Breckinridge. These campaign tokens, struck by Benjamin True of Cincinnati, also include provocative secession-themed designs that are paradoxically among the most prized by modern collectors. Struck in copper, the dominant metal for Civil War patriotic tokens. Copper pieces were accepted interchangeably with federal cents by merchants throughout the North. 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 506/511a. Die pairing: obverse 506, reverse 511. 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 506/511a