(No Date) Copper Civil War Patriotic Token F-510/511a, Stephen A. Douglas

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 510, a portrait of Stephen A. Douglas, the Northern Democratic candidate in 1860 who had defeated Lincoln for the Illinois Senate seat in 1858, 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. This die belongs to Benjamin True's 1860 presidential campaign series. True's Cincinnati workshop produced tokens for all political factions, including pro-secession designs that are now among the most valuable and historically significant pieces in the entire patriotic token series. The copper composition ensured these tokens closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating their acceptance in daily transactions. 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 510/511a. Die pairing: obverse 510, 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 510/511a