(1863) Civil War Store Card F-630BV-2a, Story & Southworth NY

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Story & Southworth in New York, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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, this die combination (Fuld 630BV-2a) is common. 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. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 111 cataloged varieties, Story & Southworth was one of the most prolific merchants in the series.

Cross References

Fuld 630BV-2a