(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-95a, Full Brockage

Coin Details

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 95a, featuring obverse die 95 — an Indian Head design modeled after the federal cent — with a brockage (mirror-image error). Indian Head dies ranked second in popularity among Civil War token obverses, chosen because the public already trusted the familiar federal cent design. This token bears no merchant identification; its dies were paired speculatively by die sinkers for sale to the general public rather than commissioned by a specific merchant. Struck in copper, the standard metal for Civil War tokens chosen because cent-sized copper pieces passed as substitute federal cents in everyday commerce. Dated 1863, the peak year of Civil War token production when the coin shortage was most acute. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses capable of striking several hundred pieces per hour. The largest manufacturers maintained multiple presses to meet wartime demand.

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, Full Brockage was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 95a