(No Date) White Metal Civil War Patriotic Token F-509/510Ae, John Bell-Presidents House

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,326 MS65 09-12-2023 eBay

Description

Civil War patriotic token combining Fuld obverse die 509, a portrait of John Bell, the Constitutional Union candidate in 1860 who drew Whig and Know-Nothing support, with reverse die 510A bearing a view of the President's House (the White House), a distinctive campaign-era architectural design. 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. Struck in white metal (a lead-tin alloy), producing a silvery appearance. White metal tokens are scarcer than copper and often show softer details due to the alloy's lower hardness. This undated token was struck during the Civil War coin shortage era of 1862-1864, when most patriotic token production occurred.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 509/510Ae. Die pairing: obverse 509, reverse 510A. 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 509/510Ae