(1861-65) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-630BG-7e, John Quinn NY

Coin Details

Description

John Quinn of New York produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. John Quinn operated a grocery store at the corner of 26th Street and Lexington Avenue in New York City. His tokens feature the patriotic reverse inscription "MONEY MAKES THE MARE GO — GO IT BUTTONS" with imagery of a man walking with coins spilling from a bindle. Struck in white metal, this die combination (Fuld 630BG-7e) is somewhat scarce. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. White metal strikings are less common than copper or brass and show more wear due to the soft alloy. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

Rarity Notes

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 31 cataloged varieties, John Quinn was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630BG-7e