Auction Number 35 Closed (#11001)

131/(Steel DIE)         Unl       AU       Original steel die for Abraham Lincoln Patriotic Civil War token 131.  One of only a handful of original dies still in existence, the only others that I am aware of are 123, 129, 153 and 174.  All have been used at one time or another to make restrikes.  Uniface silver restrikes of die 123.  The 1939 CSNS tokens used the 129 die.  Uniface White Medal and counterstamped restrikes of die 131.  Primarily counterstamped Large Cents of die 153.  And Finally uniface Aluminum and Gold restrikes of die 174.    A once in a lifetime opportunity (well maybe twice) to acquire an actually Civil War token die.  The die for Patriotic 153 sold for $7,700 in my March 2008 sale in very fierce bidding on a (4,000-6,000) estimate.  This die could bring even more due to the grater popularity of Lincoln as compared to Franklin. (6,000-8,000)