(1861) Copper Civil War Store Card F-150I-3a, A. Candler IL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$312 MS64BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

This Civil War token was issued by A. Candler, operating in 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. With 4 known varieties, A. Candler produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 150I-3a) is common among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 4 cataloged varieties, A. Candler was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 150I-3a