(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-795A-2d, J.C. Yager IL

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 795A-2d — store card of J.C. Yager, Springfld, Illinois. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. J.C. Yager issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 795A-2d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 5 cataloged varieties, J.C. Yager was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 795A-2d