(1863) Silver Civil War Store Card F-150AG-3f, S.A. Ingram IL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,680 MS64 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Fuld 150AG-3f — store card of S.A. Ingram, Chicago, Illinois. 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. Struck in silver, this die combination (Fuld 150AG-3f) is rare. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Silver examples were struck in small quantities, often for collectors or as special orders. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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-3f