(1861) Copper Civil War Store Card F-825A-2a, Lott & Warner IL

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Lott & Warner, located in Sycamore, Illinois. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. With 4 known varieties, Lott & Warner produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 825A-2a) is common among the known varieties. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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, Lott & Warner was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 825A-2a