(1862) Copper Civil War Store Card F-910A-2a, Drovers Hotel MO

Coin Details

Auction Record

$693 MS64BN 06-29-2012 Stack's Bowers

Description

Fuld 910A-2a — store card of Drovers Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis was the largest city west of the Mississippi and a vital Union stronghold, controlling river commerce and serving as a major military staging area. The 11 cataloged varieties for Drovers Hotel indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 910A-2a) is common. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. 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. 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 11 cataloged varieties, Drovers Hotel was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 910A-2a