(No Date) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-507/000a, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 507, 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 000 bearing a portrait or inscription referencing President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln tokens are among the most sought-after Civil War patriotic issues. 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. Copper was overwhelmingly preferred for patriotic token production because it replicated the look, feel, and weight of federal Indian Head cents. Merchants rarely questioned copper tokens placed alongside genuine cents in the cash drawer. Undated, but produced during the wartime token era of 1862-1864 when Americans hoarded federal coins and merchants turned to privately struck substitutes.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 507/000a. Die pairing: obverse 507, reverse 000. 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 507/000a