(1860-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-695A-1a, Lininger & Bro. IL

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Lininger & Bro. in Peru, Illinois, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. With 2 known varieties, Lininger & Bro. produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 695A-1a) is common among the known varieties. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 2 cataloged varieties, Lininger & Bro. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 695A-1a