This Civil War Token was issued by private grocer M. Weaver. M. Weaver was a Dealer of Dry Goods and Groceries in Lena, Illinois. Civil War tokens were privately minted and distributed token coins used in the United States between 1861 and 1864. They were used mainly in the Northeast and Midwest such as this one from Lena, Illinois. The widespread use of the tokens was a result of the scarcity of government-issued cents during the Civil War.
The US Congress ended the use of private tokens when it issued two laws in 1864 prohibiting the issue of a private coinage, tokens, or other devices used as currency.
This token is a store card. Other Civil War tokens include patriotic tokens and sulter tokens, although all were used as currency. This store card displays the name “M. Weaver,” which is described as a, “Dealer in Dry Goods and Groceries.” This privately owned grocery business’s location is “Lena, Illinois.”
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