(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-500A-2a, W.J. Bollinger IL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 AU50BN 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Merchant token from W.J. Bollinger of Illinois, cataloged as Fuld 500A-2a. 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, W.J. Bollinger produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 500A-2a) is common among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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, W.J. Bollinger was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 500A-2a