(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-96A/131Aa, Abraham Lincoln

Coin Details

Auction Record

$960 MS62BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 96A/131Aa, combining obverse die 96 — an Indian Head design modeled after the federal cent — with reverse die 131 bearing a portrait of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln tokens are among the most sought-after Civil War issues. Indian Head dies ranked second in popularity among Civil War token obverses, chosen because the public already trusted the familiar federal cent design. Produced in copper, the dominant metal of Civil War token production. Copper tokens survive in greater numbers than any other composition, reflecting their enormous production volumes. Location Unknown tokens like this one feature dies with patriotic or political designs but no merchant or geographic identification, suggesting speculative production by die sinkers. Dated 1864, near the end of the Civil War token era. The introduction of fractional currency and the Act of April 22, 1864 soon made private tokens obsolete.

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 1 cataloged varieties, Abraham Lincoln was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 96A/131Aa