(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-910B-4a, Lallemand's MO

Coin Details

Description

Hallemand's, a St. Louis merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. St. Louis was the largest city west of the Mississippi and a vital Union stronghold, controlling river commerce and serving as a major military staging area. Hallemand's issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 910B-4a) is common. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 7 cataloged varieties, Hallemand's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 910B-4a