(No Date) German Silver Civil War Patriotic Token F-359/436j, United Country

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 359, a patriotic wreath or value design, with reverse die 436 bearing the inscription "UNITED COUNTRY". A concise expression of the Union war aim: the preservation of a single, undivided American nation. Civil War patriotic tokens were privately struck cent-sized pieces that circulated as emergency currency during 1862-1864, when wartime hoarding drained federal coinage from commerce. Over 25 million patriotic tokens were produced before Congress banned private coinage in April 1864. Struck in German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy also called nickel silver), a scarce composition for Civil War tokens. The silvery appearance gave these pieces a more precious look than standard copper issues. This undated piece was produced circa 1862-1864, during the wartime coin shortage. Patriotic tokens circulated freely throughout the Northern states from mid-1862 through 1864. Merchants accepted them alongside genuine federal cents, and many tokens show heavy wear consistent with extended use in commerce.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 359/436j. Die pairing: obverse 359, reverse 436. German silver (nickel silver) strikes are scarce. 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 359/436j