(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-506A/507a, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 506A/507a, combining obverse die 506 — a portrait of Abraham Lincoln inscribed "FOR PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN OF ILL." — with reverse die 507 bearing a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln tokens are among the most sought-after Civil War issues. Benjamin True of Cincinnati produced this political campaign series. True's workshop struck tokens for all political factions, making the series a unique numismatic record of the divided political landscape. The copper composition ensured this token closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating acceptance in daily transactions. The absence of merchant information on this die combination places it in the Fuld catalog's Location Unknown section, among tokens produced as patriotic cent substitutes rather than as advertising pieces. Bearing the date range 1861-65, covering the years of the wartime coin shortage.

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 1 cataloged varieties, Abraham Lincoln was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 506A/507a