posted on January 16, 2006 11:54:32 AM
I've got a coin dated 1865 that I can't find anything about...hopefully someone here can identify it for me. On one side, around the edge, are the words "Millions for Defence". Then, underneath that, "Not" and then, in larger letters "One Cent" and, beneath that, "For Tribute". On the opposite side is a face (in profile) of someone (looks like the name "C. Leighton" but hard to read) and, beneath that, the date "1865". Is it worthless or worth zillions? Thanks for any info.
posted on January 16, 2006 12:06:10 PM
It's a token. One of many put out during the civil war era. Unusual in that most civil war tokens date from 1861-1864. Hopefully someone with a token book can be of more help
posted on January 16, 2006 03:58:49 PM
Present company was, of course, excepted. I SHOULD have said..."some OTHER smart person". I think you're REALLY smart...truly! Mea culpa...
posted on January 16, 2006 04:09:27 PM
Here's an 1863 one in eBay item 8373292390, they are asking $35. Another one from 1841 ebay item 8373235338 has a bid at $2.25.
posted on January 16, 2006 04:11:21 PM
As told, it is called a Civil War Token. There were hundreds made since medals became scarce during thw war, the government decided to reduce the medal in a penny by something like 75% and reduce the size of a penny from a bit bigger than a quarter (but in Bronze) to the current size. The shortage of coins due to the scarcity of medal made business difficult (how do you make change for a quarter when no one has any change?) Many shop owners made thier own coins. Many had adverts on them, but many also had political slogans on them. Millions for Defense, not one cent for tribute harkens back to the days of the Barbary coast wars against the Pirates of North Africa in the late 1700's early 1800's (very interesting subject if you are interested in that sort of thing). Anyhoo, this is one of the later tokens of the series... but the only way to determine value is to know the die varieties and marrage. A rare Variety can be worth hundreds, but the differences can be miniscule... I would be willing to guess that it is a common Type (I.E. that design is common), but I don't know anything about the die variety or marrage... There are books about it, but I would be willing to venture that it is probably not worth the time. The only ones that are TRUELY valueable are so rare that the odds that this is one of them is VERY VERY Small. Perhaps, you could do some research on the web (suggest google ("Civil War Token" "Millions for defense" everything within the ()). Find the rarest type and call it that, you will get corrections quickly... you have very nice pictures with good detail.
posted on January 16, 2006 09:21:55 PM
Thanks all...great info! I did go on the "coincommunity.com" forum and got a response...It's Patriotic Die #388 (listed in a book by Rulau) but the rarity detail was absent...The responder didn't know why so am hoping for more information. Either it's so common that rarity is a non-issue or so rare that the data was too small to count...probably the first! It is a fun little item though. Appreciate the help!
posted on January 17, 2006 09:45:19 AM
I read somewhere that these were legislated against in 1864. If so, this might indeed be rare, let's hope so, good luck!
posted on January 18, 2006 08:48:33 AM
It would be nice if this little token were rare...I'm listing it on Sunday so we'll see...And a note about the wonderful folks on the "coincommunity"...They're GREAT! Got terrific information within a day...I'm impressed! Thanks all!
posted on January 18, 2006 08:51:59 AM
Well...so much for rarity...Got a bit concerned and re-checked date on token...Sure enough, it's 1863 and NOT 1865. Guess that explains some of the questions earlier...Oh well...it's a nice token anyway. Glad I caught it before I listed...Pays to double check!
everything within the ()). Find the rarest type and call it that, you will get corrections quickly... you have very nice pictures with good detail.