(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-NL-17a

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card cataloged as Fuld NL-17a in the Location Unknown section. Designated "NL" (Not Listed) in the Fuld catalog, this token falls outside the standard numbering system for Civil War store cards. Such pieces may be recent discoveries, previously uncataloged die combinations, or tokens that defy standard classification. Produced in copper, the dominant metal of Civil War token production. Copper tokens survive in greater numbers than any other composition, reflecting their enormous production volumes. The absence of a date is common for Civil War tokens, which were produced during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. These privately manufactured tokens served as emergency coinage when federal cents disappeared from commerce due to wartime hoarding. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses capable of striking several hundred pieces per hour. The largest manufacturers maintained multiple presses to meet wartime demand.

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 1 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld NL-17a