(1861) Brass Civil War Store Card F-150J-1b, Childs, Thin Plan IL

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Child's, Die Sinker & Engraver, located in Chicago, Illinois. Chicago's explosive growth as a railroad and commodity trading center made it Illinois' primary source of Civil War store cards. Child's, Die Sinker & Engraver produced 21 cataloged die varieties, reflecting a substantial token operation. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 150J-1b) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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-1b