(No Date) German-Silver Civil War Store Card F-25B-1j, Gates & Trask IL

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Gates & Trask 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, Gates & Trask produced a modest number of token types. This german-silver striking (Fuld 25B-1j) is scarce among the known varieties. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. German silver pieces have a silvery-white color that distinguishes them from the more common copper and brass strikings.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 2 cataloged varieties, Gates & Trask was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 25B-1j