(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-700F-2a, H.Y. LeFevre RI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$240 MS63BN 01-12-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

H.Y. LeFevre of Providence issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Providence was an important manufacturing center, particularly in textiles and jewelry. The city's merchants issued Civil War tokens to maintain daily commerce. With 2 known varieties, H.Y. LeFevre produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 700F-2a) is common among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. 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. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 2 cataloged varieties, H.Y. LeFevre was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 700F-2a