(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-150K-5J, IL

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Childs' of Illinois, cataloged as Fuld 150K-5J. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. The 14 cataloged varieties for Childs' indicate a notable level of token production. This german silver striking (Fuld 150K-5J) is scarce among the known varieties. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. The German silver alloy gives these tokens an attractive appearance that has made them popular with collectors.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 14 cataloged varieties, Childs' was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 150K-5J