1863 Civil War Token Shoot Him on the Spoot, F-209/414a, NGC MS64 RB. In its population report, NGC shows 2 1863 Civil War Tokens F-209/414a SPOOT in MS64 RB condition with none finer.

This near-Gem 1863 The Flag of Our Union Civil War token is tied for the finest known at NGC. The piece has original mint luster remaining on its surfaces and within its devices. Except for a couple of darker toning spots on the obverse, the piece is clean for the grade with no abrasion marks visible without magnification. The strike is above average with full details on the peripheral legends, the edges, and the dentils on both sides.

The token, The Flag of Our Union, depicts the Union flag topped by a Phrygian cap and surrounded with thirteen stars. The legend is THE FLAG OF OUR UNION separated with ornaments, and the date is below. The reverse shows the legends in concentric circles as follows: IF ANYBODY ATTEMPTS TO TEAR IT DOWN * SHOOT HIM ON THE SPOOT. The latter is on an inner ring. In the very center of the reverse is the word DIX, the denomination.

Civil War Tokens, also known as "copperheads," were issued privately because of the coinage shortage that occurred during the war. The public disliked the fractional paper money issued by the federal government and used Civil War Tokens to replace it. There were two types of Civil War Tokens, those that had a commercial message, known as tradesmens tokens and those that had a patriotic or political theme. They disappeared in 1864 when the federal government issued enough bronze coins to satisfy public demand.

The tradesmens Civil War Tokens were used to provide small change as well as advertising for the merchant. They came with implied or stated assurances of buybacks for goods or returns for cash. Often called store cards, the tradesmens tokens are usually collected by topic or location. The patriotic or political type was used as a substitute for regular issued coinage. Private minters placed them in circulation at a profit. Some imitated the copper-nickel cent, and some said the words NOT ONE CENT, with NOT written in smaller letters. The tokens show leaders such as Lincoln, military motifs, and slogans and flags. Approximately 10,000 different Civil War Tokens are known. It is estimated that more than fifty million were issued.

When they first appeared, Civil War Tokens were not illegal; however, in 1864 a law was passed that abolished all private coinage.