(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-220A-5a, Bassett's WV

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Bassett's, located in Gleneaston, West Virginia. West Virginia separated from Virginia in 1863 to remain in the Union. Its merchants produced tokens to address the coin shortage in the newly formed state. Bassett's issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 220A-5a) is common. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 7 cataloged varieties, Bassett's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 220A-5a