(1861-65) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-145B-1d, G.L. Bowne NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$288 MS65 04-15-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Fuld 145B-1d — store card of G.L. Bowne, New York. 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. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 145B-1d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 15 cataloged varieties, G.L. Bowne was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 145B-1d