Philadelphia PA750L-3f R-7 VF+ Great Central Sanitary Fair Silver Token

  

Civil War Store Card for the Great Central Fair in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fuld PA750L-3f (silver) R-7 VF+ Rare silver variety struck by the U. The Great Central Fair was a sanitary fair held in Philadelphia in June 1864.

It was one of the larger fundraising events for the U. Sanitary Commission, a private relief agency created by the U. Congress on June 18, 1861. The purpose of the Sanitary Commission was to support sick and wounded soldiers fighting for the U.

Army during the Civil War. Sickness and infections resulting from injuries were the leading causes of death during the Civil War. Two photos from the public domain are attached for historical interest and are not a part of this sale.

The first photo is a postcard showing the buildings which housed the Great Central Fair. Unlike most Civil War tokens, this token was struck by the U. The second photo is the booth sponsored by the U.

Mint and it shows the engine-driven coin press used to strike the tokens for the Great Central Fair. The dies were prepared by Anthony Paquet, an assistant engraver employed by the U. Mint from 1857 to 1864.

Three die combinations are listed in the Fuld store card book and the die combination used to strike this token was only used to strike silver and gilt tokens. Both token varities are rare. This is an attractive circulated specimen. It was previously in the collection of long-time collector Alan Chetson.