(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-690B-1A, IL

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from A.C. Connely's, a Paris, Illinois business. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. A.C. Connely's issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 690B-1A) is common among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 9 cataloged varieties, A.C. Connely's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 690B-1A