(1863) Civil War Store Card F-180A-1b, N.O. Underwood N.O. Underwood TN

Coin Details

Auction Record

$371 AU Details 08-12-2024 eBay

Description

Civil War-era store card from N.O. Underwood, a Dedham, Tennessee business. Tennessee was divided during the Civil War. Nashville fell to Union forces in 1862, and merchants in Union-controlled areas issued tokens as emergency small change. N.O. Underwood issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 180A-1b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 5 cataloged varieties, N.O. Underwood was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 180A-1b