(No Date) White Metal Civil War Patriotic Token F-116/477e, Washington-Procese

Coin Details

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 116, a George Washington bust with flying eagle, a scarce die combination, with reverse die 477 bearing a design featuring "Procese". By placing George Washington's portrait on patriotic tokens, die sinkers appealed to the deepest roots of American identity. The message was unmistakable: preserving the Union honored the sacrifice of the Revolutionary generation. The white metal composition gives this token a silvery appearance that contrasts with the more common copper issues. White metal is softer than copper, so surviving examples often show greater wear or softer strike details. This undated piece was produced circa 1862-1864, during the wartime coin shortage. New York City produced over half of all Civil War patriotic tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio (home of John Stanton and other prolific die sinkers).

Rarity Notes

Fuld 116/477e. Die pairing: obverse 116, reverse 477. White metal (lead/tin alloy) strikes are scarcer than copper. 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 116/477e