Token F-SNL-6a

Coin Details

Description

This token is designated SNL (Sine Nomine Loci — "without name of place") in the Fuld catalog, indicating that no specific merchant or geographic location can be identified from the die inscriptions. SNL tokens are among the most enigmatic pieces in the Civil War store card series. They may represent merchants whose identities have been lost, tokens produced speculatively for general sale, or pieces whose attribution remains undiscovered. Despite the lack of specific merchant information, SNL tokens circulated as emergency small change during the Civil War coin shortage of 1862-1864, when federal silver and copper coins were hoarded and private tokens filled the gap in daily commerce. The copper planchet gave this token an appearance closely resembling contemporary United States cents, facilitating its acceptance in daily commerce. Copper merchant tokens of this type circulated widely as advertising pieces and emergency small change. Cataloged as Fuld SNL-6a in the Fuld Civil War token reference.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Fuld SNL-6a.