(1862) Brass Civil War Store Card F-560A-1b, G.R. Bowman MD

Coin Details

Auction Record

Description

Store card of G.R. Bowman in Hagerstown, Maryland, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Maryland was a border state with significant Confederate sympathies, particularly in Baltimore, where merchants issued tokens during the small change shortage. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The token era ended in 1864, when Congress authorized a bronze cent and two-cent piece and outlawed private tokens. The brass composition gives this token a warm golden tone that contrasts with the reddish-brown of copper strikings. Estimates of Civil War token output run from 25 million (Fuld) to about 50 million (CWTS), struck before Congress banned private tokens in 1864.

Cross References

Fuld 560A-1b