(1861-65) Civil War Store Card F-260A-2j, Kelly's Store

Coin Details

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 260A-2j, featuring Kelly's Store. Assigned to the Location Unknown section of the Fuld catalog because neither die carries a merchant's name, address, or city — indicating this was a patriotic rather than commercial issue. Bearing the date range 1861-65, covering the years of the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses capable of striking several hundred pieces per hour. The largest manufacturers maintained multiple presses to meet wartime demand. Merchants who issued tokens during the Civil War provided a critical public service by maintaining the ability to make change for routine purchases at a time when federal coinage had nearly vanished from everyday commerce. New York City produced over half of all Civil War tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 1 cataloged varieties, Kelly's Store was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 260A-2j