(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-910A-6B, MO

Coin Details

Description

Drovers Hotel, based in St. Louis, Missouri, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. 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. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 910A-6B) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

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-6B