(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-750P-2a, Uniface F.P. Rogers PA

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 XF45BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

CuNi F.P. Rogers of Phila issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War 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-2a) is common for this merchant. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. The Act of April 22, 1864 effectively ended private coinage by imposing penalties of up to five years imprisonment and a $2,000 fine for producing unauthorized coins or tokens. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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-2a