(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-750P-1a, F.P. Rogers PA

Coin Details

Description

CuNi F.P. Rogers, a Phila merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. CuNi F.P. Rogers issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 750P-1a) is common for this merchant. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. 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 6 cataloged varieties, CuNi F.P. Rogers was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 750P-1a