(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-150A-2A, IA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Reynolds & Co. of Cedar Rpds, Iowa. Iowa contributed disproportionately to the war effort relative to its population, with merchants issuing tokens in small numbers reflecting its less urbanized economy. With 3 known varieties, Reynolds & Co. produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 150A-2A) is common for this merchant. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

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 3 cataloged varieties, Reynolds & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 150A-2A