(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-920A-1a, M.D. Stevers IL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$312 VF35BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War-era store card from M.D. Stevers, a Woodstock, Illinois business. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 920A-1a) is common. 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. The transition from large copper cents to small-diameter bronze cents in 1857 had already created a shortage mindset, making the public particularly anxious about coin supplies when war began. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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, M.D. Stevers was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 920A-1a