(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-910C-1a, Henry Jenkins MO

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 AU55BN 06-23-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Henry Jenkins, located in St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis was the largest city west of the Mississippi and a vital Union stronghold, controlling river commerce and serving as a major military staging area. With 3 known varieties, Henry Jenkins produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 910C-1a) is common among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. 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 3 cataloged varieties, Henry Jenkins was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 910C-1a