(No Date) Copper-Nickel Civil War Patriotic Token F-252/271d, Masonic

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 252, a Masonic compass-and-square design reflecting the prominent role of fraternal lodges in Northern civic life, with reverse die 271 bearing a design featuring "No Slavery". Dies in this range encompass naval scenes, constitutional inscriptions, and fraternal symbols. The variety demonstrates that Civil War tokens served not only as emergency currency but also as miniature propaganda platforms for causes ranging from Union patriotism to fraternal solidarity. The copper-nickel composition — the same alloy used for federal Indian Head cents from 1857 to 1864 — makes this a particularly faithful imitation of official government coinage. This undated piece was produced circa 1862-1864, during the wartime coin shortage. 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 252/271d. Die pairing: obverse 252, reverse 271. Copper-nickel is an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. 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 252/271d