Hello folks, hoping some one might have some more knowledge on this coin then I can seem to find. I'm looking through a set of coins from my parents who inherited some coins and most I can identify; but this one I need help with. Sorry for lack of a picture. It's a copper coin the size of a regular penny; dated 1863 with a bust of liberty? capped, around the rim of the obverse it reads: "For Public Accomodation" and on the back is a bird in the middle and along the top of the rim "United States" and along the bottom "Copper". Can anyone attribute this and give me a rough estimate of value? I'd say its grade is no better than fine. Thanks for any help; none of my reference material has anything on this that I can see.
It's a CWT: http://www.bowersandmerena.com/auctions/lot_detail.aspx?AuctionNo=13140&SessionNo=2&LotNo=1022 Ribbit Ps: Post pics. :thumb:
Your description of the obverse clearly indicates die 37. This die was paired with 5 different reverse dies, of which your description indicates reverse die 434. If you are correct in the metal being copper, the id is 37/434a, with an R-1 rarity rating (very common with over 5000 known). Toad's link is to an example of the correct die pairing, but that token is made of brass. In addition to those two metals, that die pair is also known to have been struck in nickel, copper-nickel, white metal and silver. The mixing of metal alloys was not consistently done back in those days, and there are brass and copper-nickel examples that can look very similar to copper, so be sure to examine your token carefully as both of the other metals are more valuable than the copper one. I looked at 2b1ask1's link, but did not take the time to search for the token. Value in Kanzinger's 2002 book (the most recent reference) is listed at $12 in Fine.
It's nice to have a CW Token fanatic on CT. I run across them in my travels and some I see go fairly high and others fairly cheap. I'll pick one up here and there, if the price is right. Some day I'll have to post what I have so far, although it's only a handful. Nice to bump into you finally! :thumb: Ribbit
Thanks for the kind comment, Handsome Toad. I would love to see what you may have. A couple of years ago, someone here had a rather scarce one that they posted a picture of and were wondering about. It could have easily sold in the $4-5,000 range. I have seen some cwts go for over $10K, and I have picked some up for less than $3, so yes, the prices can cover a wide range. Rarity alone is not necessarily what sets the value either. There are R1 tokens that consistently sell for more than certain R9 tokens. I just picked up my first R10 (unique) CW token this summer, so I was happy about that. I collect just about all exonumia, not just Civil War tokens, and have a fairly decent reference library on many aspects of the subject, so if you have any token questions, let me know.
thanks! thanks again for the help. I've been told that I'll get to keep that token so when it finally arrives in my paws, I'll be sure to scan and upload a pic.
