(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-560A-3a, . Flemming & Bro. IA

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 AU55BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card issued by Wm. Flemming & Bro. of Lansing, Iowa. Iowa contributed disproportionately to the war effort relative to its population, with merchants issuing tokens in small numbers reflecting its less urbanized economy. Wm. Flemming & Bro. issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 560A-3a) is common. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 5 cataloged varieties, Wm. Flemming & Bro. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 560A-3a