(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-890D-4a, R.C. Graves WV

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 MS63BN 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

This Civil War token was issued by R.C. Graves, operating in Wheeling, West Virginia. West Virginia separated from Virginia in 1863 to remain in the Union. Its merchants produced tokens to address the coin shortage in the newly formed state. R.C. Graves issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 890D-4a) is common among the known varieties. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 7 cataloged varieties, R.C. Graves was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 890D-4a