1863 Token F-120/256a GW-578 Copper Horrors of War Civil War Patriotic

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 MS63BN 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

The 1863 Civil War patriotic token F-120/256a (GW-578) in copper bears the dramatic legend "Horrors of War" on the reverse, paired with the G.W. Washington portrait obverse (die 120). The "Horrors of War" inscription is one of the most emotionally charged messages found on Civil War tokens, reflecting the growing awareness of the war's devastating human cost by 1863. The juxtaposition of Washington's portrait with the "Horrors of War" message created a poignant commentary — the father of the country gazing forward from one side while the other side acknowledged the terrible cost of preserving the union he had founded. Copper is the standard composition for most Civil War tokens, and the "a" suffix confirms this as the primary metallic variant. The Horrors of War reverse is one of the more collected varieties in the patriotic token series.

Rarity Notes

Fuld 120/256a in copper. Standard composition. Horrors of War reverse is popular with collectors.

Cross References

Fuld 120/256a; Musante-Baker GW-578; PCGS #788421