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Message:: [QUOTE="johnmilton, post: 8593945, member: 101855"]The battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack or CSS Virginia was a draw, but the result was a win for the Union. When the North got wind of the existence of the Virginia there was a panic. Would the Confederacy sail the monster up the Potomac River, shell Washington DC and for the Union Government out of its capital? Did the Union Government have anything that could defeat the monster? The first day the Virginia engaged the Union fleet of wooden ships confirmed the worse fears. The Union wooden navy was instantly rendered obsolete. The next day the Monitor appeared on the scene, and neutralized the Virginia. The Monitor didn't sink or defeat the Virginia, but it held it to a draw. The truth was the Virginia was underpowered, top heavy and not very seaworthy. It needed calm seas to survive, and its ability to get to a Washington DC was highly doubtful. The truth was the Monitor could keep it bottled up where it was. Ultimately the Confederacy blew up the Virginia to keep it from falling into Union hands. As for the token in the OP, the obverse (Monitor side) is Fuld 240. The reverse, the shield side, is Fuld 341. It is an R-1 token. It also a very late die state. Both dies were badly rusted when the token was stuck, which resulted in the die sinker's initials, C.D.H., almost disappearing. Fuld 240 was also paired with Fuld 337 which is the piece that is in my collection. Since I only collect the obverse designs for the Monitor CWTs, that's the one I have. Although my token is a close to full red Unc., the dies were rusty when it was struck, which is why the fields are not smooth. [ATTACH=full]1513337[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]1513338[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]

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