(1861-65) Civil War Store Card F-985A-1a, Wilkes-Barre PA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from Pennsylvania, cataloged as Fuld 985A-1a. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. 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).

Cross References

Fuld 985A-1a