(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-630L-1b, Broas Bros. NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$60 MS64 04-12-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Broas Bros. in New York. Broas Brothers Pie Bakers at 131 41st Street in New York City issued tokens under this name alongside the related "Broas Pie Baker" series. Together the Broas family produced nearly 30 die varieties, one of the most extensive series from any single New York merchant. This brass striking (Fuld 630L-1b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors. 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

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 42 cataloged varieties, Broas Bros. was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630L-1b