(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-200A-3A, IL

Coin Details

Description

I.L. Elwood of DE Kalb issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. I.L. Elwood issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 200A-3A) is common. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 5 cataloged varieties, I.L. Elwood was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200A-3A