(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165GJ-16a, Commission

Coin Details

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 165GJ-16a, featuring a commission or commerce-related inscription. This die combination carries no merchant attribution, placing it in the Location Unknown section of the Fuld catalog. Such tokens circulated alongside merchant-identified store cards. The copper composition ensured this token closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating acceptance in daily transactions. Dated 1863, the peak year of Civil War token production when the coin shortage was most acute. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, and the introduction of fractional currency notes and new bronze two-cent pieces gradually eliminated the need for emergency tokens. Civil War tokens circulated freely throughout the Northern states from mid-1862 through 1864. Merchants accepted them alongside genuine federal cents, and many show heavy wear from commerce.

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, Commission was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 165GJ-16a