(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-890B-22b, Oliver Boutwell NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$37 AU58 08-25-2021 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-22b) is common to somewhat scarce. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. 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 strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

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-22b