Expert: Dan Moore - 8/28/2009

Question
I have a coin that I can't find anything about.
It is an Indian Head about the size of a penny but doesn't say penny. The date is 1863 on the bottom. It looks like 13 little stars around the Indian Head. Looks like copper.
On the other side of the coin it has a 5 point star which is large and in the center of the star it is kind of an oval and in the oval has a profile of a man. Not sure who but looks like George Washington. This might not be correct, not sure who it is. It also has a circle around the 5 point star.
It does not have a reef on the other side of the Indian head. I have seen Indian head penny with a reef on the other side and that coin did say penny 1863 this is not that coin.
Can you find this coin and give me some info about it.
Thanks Barbara  

Answer
Barbara,

You have what is known as a Patriotic Civil War Token.

These were privately minted and sold to merchants to be used both for making change for their customers (due to the extreme shortage of coins at that time), and to promote patriotic slogans.

The particular one you describe could be one of two possible varieties, both of which are a bit more rare than the most common varieties.  In nice condition, it could be worth $25 or more.

By the way, that is George Washington inside the star.

If you are looking to sell it, I can refer you to a major Civil War Token dealer I know.  If you send pictures of both sides of the token to him, I'm sure he can make a fair offer for it.

He is ... Ernie Latter ... email ernster4@aol.com

I hope this helps,

Dan