1861-1865 Wealth of the South Token NGC MS64 BN. This lustrous, mint state, Civil War token shows hints of mint red around the peripheries, more so on the obverse, with darker toned central features. No wear is seen, as expected for a mint state piece. The surfaces are original and mark-free, except for a dark spot near the edge on both sides. The strike is full on the peripheries and above average in the centers.

The obverse of the token depicts the legend THE WEALTH OF THE SOUTH RICE TOBACCO SUGAR COTTON. The reverse shows a Union shield circumscribed by the inscription OUR RIGHTS, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE UNION.
The token was designed by Benjamin True and struck in Cincinnati by John Stanton. It was marketed in the South where its obverse sentiment was strongly favored. The philosophy was that the strength of the South came from the land and its crops. The strength of the North was based on man-made facilities and activities such as banking and manufacturing. Several different mules were made with these dies including the current piece, which features a mildly pro-southern legend. (One extremely odd mule, for example, has Lincoln on the obverse with a secessionist reverse, NO SUBMISSION TO THE NORTH.) The token occurs both with and without a hole for suspension. The current piece is unholed.

During the time that these tokens were being sold in the South, nominees were being selected for the presidential election. Benjamin True made obverse dies for all of the nominees and two reverse dies with a view of the White House lettered PRESIDENTS HOUSE. After the presidential campaign ended, True combined most of the dies creating different mule issues for the numismatic trade. Hence the absurd Lincoln piece. They were instantly popular and often listed as individual lots in auction catalogs. Today, the popularity of these unusual pieces continues.