Collection Highlights
Portrait of a Heroic Fireman
ca. 1857
1937.328
Polychrome painted and carved wood
Support the New-York Historical Society
Help us present groundbreaking exhibitions and develop educational programs about our nation's history for more than 200,000 schoolchildren annually.
Museum Collections
Luce Center
Civil War token
Object name
Civil War token
Date
1863
Medium
Copper
Dimensions
Diameter: 24.3 mm.
Description
The front shows an Indian head. The back shows a coffin in a wreath.
Object Number
INV.13787e
Marks
Die struck: Obverse: "1863"
Die struck: Reverse: "J.J. DIEHL UNDERTAKER/133/ESSEX ST./NEW YORK."
Gallery Label
Tokens called "Civil War tokens" were struck in some northern cities between 1863 and 1865 to supply small change for public transactions. To circumvent anti-counterfeiting laws, they were either not denominated or bore an evasive valuation, as here (i.e., "medal for one cent").
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.
