(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-890B-15b, Oliver Boutwell NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$27 UNC Details 01-30-2018 Heritage Auctions

Description

Oliver Boutwell of New York issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. Oliver Boutwell (1807-1888) began as a baker then established himself as a miller near Sloop Lock in Troy, NY. The firm O. Boutwell & Son dealt in flour, wheat, rye, oats, and corn. An estimated 100,000-200,000 of his tokens were issued and circulated extensively throughout the Eastern United States, making them among the most widely distributed Civil War store cards. His tokens promised paper redemption with the inscription "REDEEMED IN BILLS AT MY OFFICE." Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 890B-15b) is common to somewhat scarce. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 890B-15b