(1861-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-980A-1b, C. Benson MN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$336 XF40 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of C. Benson in Minnesota. Minnesota was a relatively new state (admitted 1858) also dealing with the Dakota War of 1862, yet its merchants issued store cards during the coin shortage. With 2 known varieties, C. Benson produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 980A-1b) is common to somewhat scarce. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 2 cataloged varieties, C. Benson was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 980A-1b