(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-220A-6a, Bassett's WV

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Bassett's of Gleneaston, West Virginia, cataloged as Fuld 220A-6a. 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. This copper striking (Fuld 220A-6a) is common among the known varieties. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. 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 7 cataloged varieties, Bassett's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 220A-6a