(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-464A-1c, PA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from Petersen's, a Honesdale, Pennsylvania business. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. Petersen's produced 30 cataloged die varieties, reflecting a substantial token operation. This nickel striking (Fuld 464A-1c) is scarce among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Pure nickel pieces are harder to strike than copper, contributing to their relative scarcity.

Rarity Notes

Nickel strikings are generally scarcer than copper or brass versions, as nickel was more expensive and harder to strike. With 30 cataloged varieties, Petersen's was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 464A-1c