(No Date) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-286A/287d, Silver Mine Token

Coin Details

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 286A/287d, combining obverse die 286 — a patriotic or political design — with reverse die 287 bearing a "SILVER MINE TOKEN" design. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans hoarded federal coins following the suspension of specie payments in December 1861. Struck in copper-nickel, the same alloy used for federal flying eagle and Indian Head cents. This composition is less common than copper for Civil War tokens. This die combination carries no merchant attribution, placing it in the Location Unknown section of the Fuld catalog. Such tokens circulated alongside merchant-identified store cards. The absence of a date is common for Civil War tokens, which were produced during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Americans had hoarded federal coins since the suspension of specie payments in December 1861.

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, Silver Mine Token was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 286A/287d