(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-150Y-1a, F. Gall IL

Coin Details

Auction Record

$169 MS64BN 01-19-2022 eBay

Description

Fuld 150Y-1a — store card of F. Gall, Illinois. Illinois was a critical Union state with Chicago rapidly becoming one of America's largest commercial centers, driving token production across the state. With 2 known varieties, F. Gall produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 150Y-1a) is common. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 2 cataloged varieties, F. Gall was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 150Y-1a