(1863) Silver Civil War Store Card F-150AG-2f, S.A. Ingram IL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,320 MS62BN 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Store card of S.A. Ingram in Chicago, Illinois, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Chicago's explosive growth as a railroad and commodity trading center made it Illinois' primary source of Civil War store cards. The 10 cataloged varieties for S.A. Ingram indicate a notable level of token production. The silver composition of this variety (Fuld 150AG-2f) is rare for this merchant. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced as presentation or collector pieces. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

Rarity Notes

Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced in small quantities for collectors or as special presentation pieces. With 10 cataloged varieties, S.A. Ingram was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 150AG-2f