(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-760A-1a, D.C. Greenleaf MN

Coin Details

Description

D.C. Greenleaf of Minnesota issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. Minnesota was a relatively new state (admitted 1858) also dealing with the Dakota War of 1862, yet its merchants issued store cards during the coin shortage. With 2 known varieties, D.C. Greenleaf produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 760A-1a) is common among the known varieties. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. 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 2 cataloged varieties, D.C. Greenleaf was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 760A-1a