(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-150AB-2a, Wm. Harlev IL

Coin Details

Description

Wm. Harlev of Illinois produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. 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, Wm. Harlev produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 150AB-2a) is common. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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, Wm. Harlev was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 150AB-2a