(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-285A/0a, Uniface Trade & Commerce

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 AU50BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 285A/0a, combining obverse die 285 — a patriotic or political design — with reverse die 0 bearing a uniface (one-sided) design with a blank reverse. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans hoarded federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861. The copper composition ensured this token closely matched the weight, size, and color of federal Indian Head cents, facilitating acceptance in daily transactions. Cataloged under "Location Unknown" in the Fuld reference because the die combination carries no merchant or geographic attribution. Dated 1863, the peak year of Civil War token production when the coin shortage was most acute. 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, Uniface Trade & Commerce was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 285A/0a