1863 Anti-Slavery Civil War Token

LIBERTY AND NO SLAVERY from 9 to 3 with the date at the bottom. Very nice condition.

 

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This is the most common of the antislavery Civil War tokens. This obverse was used with two other reverses. The “No compromise with traitors” reverse is the scarcest one. I sold many examples of this variety when I was a dealer.

I’ve out of the market too long to tell you what this is worth. Tokens I sold for $15 when I was a dealer now sell for $50 to $60.

 

Here are the three varieties with the same obverse.

Fuld 36/340



Fuld 36/271



Fuld 36/432 this is the scarcest.

 

I’ve easily made money at those prices. I just don’t want to sell.

 

I have one those as well, actually I have a few different slave tokens but no pics yet except for these.

 

I forgot to post a link with the above 1788 slave penny, there's a load of information in the link on these as there were quite a few minted. I read somewhere these were handed out at a fancy restaurant in Barbados but I don't remember the particulars, too long ago. Below is the link for the 1788 but also here's a tiny token made by Spence of the UK, it's packed but my guess is it's dime size or a bit smaller, and pricey like heck. He also made a larger size one around the size of a half dollar, I have them both but don't have pics of everything yet, someday I will!

https://coins.nd.edu/colcoin/ColCoinText/Barbados.1.html

 

I have never seen any of these. Thanks to all for sharing.

 

For a Wilbur token yours is in good shape. I've often seem them weakly struck, especially in the center.

Bruce

 

I have heard that a large number of these pieces were tossed in the sea in Charleston, South Carolina and fished out later. That explains who most of them have rough surfaces and often seen corroded. The example @fretboard has is well above average.

 

Interesting story, John. I hadn't heard that before but it would explain the damage seen on many of them as you say. Have you heard any estimates as to how many have survived?

Bruce

 

When I was dealer, they were generally available. The trick was to find nice ones. There were not a lot of those among the hoard.

So far as survivors go, it might be a thousand at the most. Tokens are far less popular than coins, and a few hundred or more can go a long way.

 

Thanks for your reply. Your estimate is higher than I would have thought but you're in a much better position...being a former dealer...to judge than I.

My primary interest is collecting and researching counterstamped coins so my take on rarity is similar to yours. I consider an issue with about 20 or more known survivors to be common.

Bruce