(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-425A-4A, AL

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by White & Swann, operating in Huntsville, Alabama. Alabama was a Confederate state, making merchant-issued tokens from Alabama particularly unusual. Most date to early in the war or from areas under Union control. White & Swann produced 29 cataloged die varieties, reflecting a substantial token operation. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 425A-4A) is common for this merchant. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 29 cataloged varieties, White & Swann was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 425A-4A