(No Date) Copper Civil War Store Card F-225A-1a, H.L. Mosley IL

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of H.L. Mosley in 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, H.L. Mosley produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 225A-1a) is common. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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, H.L. Mosley was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 225A-1a