(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-910A-4B, MO

Coin Details

Auction Record

$780 MS63 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card issued by Drovers Hotel of St. Louis, Missouri. St. Louis was the largest city west of the Mississippi and a vital Union stronghold, controlling river commerce and serving as a major military staging area. The 11 cataloged varieties for Drovers Hotel indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 910A-4B) is common to somewhat scarce. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 11 cataloged varieties, Drovers Hotel was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 910A-4B