(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-150AG-1A, IL

Coin Details

Description

Store card of S.A. Ingram in Chicago, Illinois, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Chicago was one of the fastest-growing cities in the world by 1860, rapidly becoming America's railroad hub and grain trading center with a population of 112,000. The 10 cataloged varieties for S.A. Ingram indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 150AG-1A) is common. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 10 cataloged varieties, S.A. Ingram was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 150AG-1A