(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-765F-4d, PA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by W.A. Gildenfenney of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. W.A. Gildenfenney issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 765F-4d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 7 cataloged varieties, W.A. Gildenfenney was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 765F-4d