(1863) Civil War Store Card F-460v-2a, W.K. Lanphear IN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,220 MS70BN 12-11-2023 Heritage Auctions

Description

Merchant token from W.K. Lanphear of Indiana, cataloged as Fuld 460v-2a. Hoosier merchants in Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and smaller towns issued Civil War tokens reflecting Indiana's diverse commercial landscape. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 460v-2a) is common. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Token production during the Civil War represented the largest private coinage movement in American history, with an estimated 25 million pieces struck between 1862 and 1864. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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 1 cataloged varieties, W.K. Lanphear was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 460v-2a