(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-275A-1B, IL

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by P.H. Tompkins, operating in EL Paso, Illinois. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. With 3 known varieties, P.H. Tompkins produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 275A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 3 cataloged varieties, P.H. Tompkins was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 275A-1B