(1861-65) German-Silver Civil War Store Card F-95D-7j, T. Ivory NY

Coin Details

Description

Store card of T. Ivory in New York, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. T. Ivory operated a billiard saloon at the corner of Fulton and Orange Streets in Brooklyn. His tokens feature a bust of George Washington on the reverse inscribed "THE WASHINGTON TOKEN. 1863." One variety was struck over an 1857 Seated Liberty Dime, with traces of the original coin still visible — making overstrike varieties especially prized among specialists. Struck in german-silver, this die combination (Fuld 95D-7j) is scarce. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. The German silver alloy gives these tokens an attractive appearance that has made them popular with collectors.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 27 cataloged varieties, T. Ivory was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 95D-7j