(No Date) Brass Civil War Store Card F-150AR-1b, Wm. Ostendorf IL

Coin Details

Description

Wm. Ostendorf of Illinois issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. This brass striking (Fuld 150AR-1b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 1 cataloged varieties, Wm. Ostendorf was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 150AR-1b