(1862) Token La-105 J.B. Schiller

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era token issued by J.B. Schiller, cataloged as Lanphear 105. Schiller operated a business during the coin shortage of 1862-1864, when merchants across the North issued private tokens to facilitate commerce in the absence of circulating federal coinage. Struck in copper-nickel, an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. The heavier copper-nickel alloy gave these pieces a silvery appearance and greater heft than standard copper issues. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens. The Civil War coin shortage began in late 1861 when Americans hoarded gold, silver, and eventually copper coins. Private die sinkers and token manufacturers filled the gap, producing millions of cent-sized pieces that merchants accepted as substitutes for federal coinage.

Rarity Notes

Lanphear 105. Copper-nickel is an uncommon composition for Civil War tokens. Individual merchant tokens typically survive in smaller quantities than mass-produced patriotic designs.

Cross References

Lanphear 105