1863 Civil War Token, Union Must Be Preserved, F-136/397a, NGC MS63BN. This Choice Mint State 1863 patriotic Civil War token is a glossy chocolate brown with hints of red remaining. The colors prove the pieces originality. The surfaces are clean for the grade with no notable abrasion marks or other distractions. The strike is strong with full details on the obverse portrait and legend as well as the principal reverse device and date.
 
The obverse shows a uniformed bust of Jackson facing left in profile. He is surrounded by the legend THE UNION MUST AND SHALL BE PRESERVED. The reverse shows a rattlesnake with the legend BEWARE above and the date below encircled by a ring of stars.
 
Civil War tokens are divided into those with patriotic themes and merchant advertising. They circulated until the newly made Federal bronze coins of 1864 were issued in sufficient quantity to meet demand. Civil War tokens circulated because of the coinage shortage prior to 1864 and the publics dislike of the governments solution, fractional paper money.

In its population report, NGC shows 11 1863 CWT F-136/397a certified at the MS63BN grade level.