(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-720A-5A, MN

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by F.W. Andrews, operating in Rochester, Minnesota. Minnesota was a relatively new state (admitted 1858) also dealing with the Dakota War of 1862, yet its merchants issued store cards during the coin shortage. F.W. Andrews issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 720A-5A) is common for this merchant. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 7 cataloged varieties, F.W. Andrews was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 720A-5A