(1860-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-451D/532b, Good For 5 Cent

Coin Details

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 451D/532b, combining obverse die 451 — a patriotic or political design — with reverse die 532 bearing the denomination "GOOD FOR 5 CENTS". These privately manufactured tokens served as emergency coinage throughout the Northern states from 1862 to 1864, an entrepreneurial response to the wartime disappearance of federal small change. Produced in brass, an alloy that took die impressions sharply and resisted corrosion well. Brass tokens survive in excellent condition more frequently than copper counterparts. Without merchant identification on the dies, this token cannot be attributed to a specific issuer or location. Location Unknown store cards represent speculative die pairings produced for general circulation. Dated 1860-65, encompassing the primary period of Civil War token production.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 1 cataloged varieties, Good For 5 Cent was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 451D/532b