(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-8A/317, Army & Navy

Coin Details

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 8A/317, combining obverse die 8 — a French-style Liberty head facing left surrounded by thirteen stars — with reverse die 317 bearing the inscription "ARMY & NAVY" within a laurel wreath. This tribute to the Union military was one of the most popular reverse legends on Civil War tokens. The French Liberty obverse belongs to the largest die family in the Civil War token series. The classical design echoed contemporary French coins and medals. Struck in copper, the standard metal for Civil War tokens chosen because cent-sized copper pieces passed as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Assigned to the Location Unknown section of the Fuld catalog because neither die carries a merchant's name, address, or city — indicating this was a patriotic rather than commercial issue. Dated 1863, the peak year of Civil War token production when the coin shortage was most acute.

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, Army & Navy was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 8A/317