(1862) Brass Civil War Store Card F-750V-6b, GW-559 N & G Taylor Co. PA

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,280 MS64 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

GW-557 N & G. Taylor Co., based in Phila, Pennsylvania, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. GW-557 N & G. Taylor Co. issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 750V-6b) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 6 cataloged varieties, GW-557 N & G. Taylor Co. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 750V-6b