(1860-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-600E-4a, Steamer Lancaster TN

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Stockman & Co. of Tennessee, cataloged as Fuld 600E-4a. Tennessee was divided during the Civil War. Nashville fell to Union forces in 1862, and merchants in Union-controlled areas issued tokens as emergency small change. The 12 cataloged varieties for Stockman & Co. indicate a notable level of token production. This copper striking (Fuld 600E-4a) is common among the known varieties. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 12 cataloged varieties, Stockman & Co. was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 600E-4a