(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-700I-1d, F.W. Shattuck RI

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,020 MS66 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

F.W. Shattuck, a Providence merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 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, F.W. Shattuck produced a modest number of token types. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 700I-1d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 2 cataloged varieties, F.W. Shattuck was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 700I-1d