A brief history of the Store Card can be found in the introduction of
U.S. Civil War Store
Cards by George and Melvin Fuld :
"Early in 1862 all metallic currency was gradually withdrawn from circulation. Citizens,
anticipating the possible increase in value of all metals, commenced hoarding gold, silver and
even copper to such an extent that in a short time there were no metallic coins of any
denomination in circulation. Tradesman were thus forced to issue a medium that would supply the
place of small coins, and the first of these issued on account of the lack of the proper
Government currency made their first appearance in Cincinnati in the Fall of 1862. In the Spring
of 1863, New York followed this example. The first to be made in New York was the Lindenmueller
currency, of which a million pieces were struck. William H. Bridgens, the die-cutter, then
issued the Knickerbocker currency, which consisted of numerous varieties, and were struck in
large quantities."
"The issue of similar pieces became general throughout the Eastern and Middle Western States,
until it was estimated that not less than 25,000,000 of these private tokens were in general
circulation, which must have included between 7,000 and 8,000 varieties."
"These little coins filled the wants of the trades-people, and were accepted as a means of
exchange for the value, which was usually one cent. They undoubtedly were a source of great
relief and convenience; but their irresponsible character soon attracted the attention of the
Federal Authorities. It is said that the Third Avenue Railroad of New York requested
Lindenmueller to redeem a large number of his tokens, which they accepted in the course of
business, but he laughingly refused to do. The railroad had no redress, and it is not improbable
that incidents of this kind forced the Government to put a stop to their issue. This was
done by the passage of an act of Congress in 1864, forbidding private individuals from issuing
any form of money."
There are more than 9,500 varieties of Store Cards known that were issued by approximately 1,700
merchants from 22 different States and about 400 towns.
Sutler tokens were a special kind of Store Card that was issued by sutlers who supplied the
Union Army. A sutler was a vendor who followed the army and sold provisions and luxury goods
such as are found in our modern day PX or post exchange. He supplied tobacco, candy, dried
fruit, canned goods, writing materials (and sometimes liquor) to the soldier who could afford
the high priced goods. Many of the sutlers of this era issued metal tokens to insure themselves
the trade of soldiers to whom they extended credit. These tokens ranged from 3¢ to $1 with
both the sutler's name and the soldier's regiment listed.
Die sinkers were making good profits from their manufacturing of Civil War tokens. They issued
not only Store Cards to individual merchants and tokens for sutlers, but they made and sold
tokens which had no reference to a specific business concern. Since these usually included a
patriotic theme, they are called PATRIOTICS.