(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-615A-1B, IL

Coin Details

Description

Robert Naper, based in Naperville, Illinois, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime 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. With 3 known varieties, Robert Naper produced a modest number of token types. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 615A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. 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. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 615A-1B