(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-690A-3a, Collins Bro's IL

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Collins Bro's, located in Paris, Illinois. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. The 10 cataloged varieties for Collins Bro's indicate a notable level of token production. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 690A-3a) is common for this merchant. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. 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 10 cataloged varieties, Collins Bro's was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 690A-3a