(1861-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-890B-37b, Rev Brockage of Patriotic, Boutwell NY

Coin Details

Description

Rev Brockage of Patriotic, Boutwell of New York produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Oliver Boutwell (1807-1888) began as a baker then established himself as a miller near Sloop Lock in Troy, NY. The firm O. Boutwell & Son dealt in flour, wheat, rye, oats, and corn. An estimated 100,000-200,000 of his tokens were issued and circulated extensively throughout the Eastern United States, making them among the most widely distributed Civil War store cards. His tokens promised paper redemption with the inscription "REDEEMED IN BILLS AT MY OFFICE." The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 890B-37b) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 42 cataloged varieties, Rev Brockage of Patriotic, Boutwell was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 890B-37b