(1861) Brass Civil War Store Card F-150J-11B, Child's, Die Sinker & Engraver IL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 AU55 06-23-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card issued by Child's, Die Sinker & Engraver of Chicago, Illinois. Chicago was one of the fastest-growing cities in the world by 1860, rapidly becoming America's railroad hub and grain trading center with a population of 112,000. Child's, Die Sinker & Engraver produced 21 cataloged die varieties, reflecting a substantial token operation. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 150J-11B) is common to somewhat scarce. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 21 cataloged varieties, Child's, Die Sinker & Engraver was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 150J-11B