(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-200A-1a, Dunn & Co's MA

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Dunn & COs, operating in Charlestwn, Massachusetts. Massachusetts was a center of manufacturing and abolitionist sentiment, with Boston and surrounding cities contributing Civil War tokens as emergency currency. Dunn & COs issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 200A-1a) is common among the known varieties. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 5 cataloged varieties, Dunn & COs was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200A-1a