(1863) Civil War Store Card F-630BV-18d, CuNi Story & Southworth NY

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 630BV-18d — store card of CuNi Story & Southworth, New York. Story & Southworth operated a grocery store in New York City. While some original wartime varieties are scarce (R-6, with only 21-76 estimated survivors), the series is notable because post-war producers Emil Sigel and Edward Groh later created over 100 additional die combinations using the original obverse die, requiring careful distinction between wartime originals and post-war restrikes. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 630BV-18d) is somewhat scarce. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 111 cataloged varieties, CuNi Story & Southworth was one of the most prolific merchants in the series.

Cross References

Fuld 630BV-18d