(1863) Civil War Store Card F-320E-1a, Helena Hertrich IL

Coin Details

Description

Helena Hertrich, based in Freeport, Illinois, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. With 2 known varieties, Helena Hertrich produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 320E-1a) is common. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

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 2 cataloged varieties, Helena Hertrich was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 320E-1a