US 1 Cent Encased Postage Stamp
United States · 1862 · 1 cent
A 1-cent US postage stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin, encased in a circular brass frame with a mica window. The reverse of the brass case often carried an advertisement.
These items were created during the American Civil War (1861-1865) to alleviate a severe shortage of circulating coins. Postage stamps were used as emergency currency, and encasing them protected them from wear and tear.
Printing Method
Engraved
Image: <bdi><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/en:National_Museum_of_American_History" class="extiw" title="w:en:National Museum of American History"><span title="history museum in Washington, D.C., a division of the Smithsonian Institution">National Museum of American History</span></a> </bdi> · License: Public domain
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