1863, United States, Civil War. Copper "Army & Navy" Patriotic Cent Token. XF-AU!

Mint Year: 1863 Condition: A nice XF-AU! References: Fuld-12/297. Denomination: Patriotic Civil War Cent Token - Army & Navy Material: Copper Diameter: 19mm Weight: 3.06gm

Obverse: Capped bust of Lady Liberty left. Thirteen stars around, date (1863) below. Reverse: Inscription ("ARMY AND NAVY") within wreath with two swords in saltire bound by a band.

Civil War tokens are token coins that were privately minted and distributed in the United States between 1862 and 1864. They were used mainly in the Northeast and Midwest. The widespread use of the tokens was a result of the scarcity of government-issued cents during the Civil War. Civil War tokens became illegal after the United States Congress passed a law on April 22, 1864 prohibiting the issue of any one or two-cent coins, tokens or devices for use as currency. On June 8, 1864 an additional law was passed that forbade all private coinage.