(1861-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-145B-1b, G.L. Bowne NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 MS65 04-15-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

G.L. Bowne of New York issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. G.L. Bowne operated "The Iron Clad" hardware store in Cooperstown, New York — a business name cleverly referencing both ironclad warships and the iron goods sold within. His tokens read "WILL REDEEM AT THE IRON CLAD / G.L. BOWNE." The Iron Clad Building at 92 Main Street is now a contributing structure to the Cooperstown Historic District. This brass striking (Fuld 145B-1b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 15 cataloged varieties, G.L. Bowne was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 145B-1b