(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-150M-1a, R.H. Countiss IL

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from R.H. Countiss of 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 3 known varieties, R.H. Countiss produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 150M-1a) is common. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. 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 3 cataloged varieties, R.H. Countiss was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 150M-1a