(1861-65) Civil War Store Card F-215A-4a, J. Hayes & Bro. IL

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by J. Hayes & Bro. in Illinois. 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, J. Hayes & Bro. produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 215A-4a) is common for this merchant. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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, J. Hayes & Bro. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 215A-4a