(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-630BB-7a, GW-624 Monks Metal Signs NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$240 MS65BN 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War-era store card from GW-624 Monks Metal Signs of New York. New York was the nation's commercial capital, with New York City alone producing hundreds of store card varieties from Broadway retailers to waterfront wholesalers. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 630BB-7a) is common. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. The coin shortage of 1862-1864 affected virtually every retail transaction in the Northern states, as hoarding removed silver and copper coins from circulation faster than the U.S. Mint could replace them. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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 81 cataloged varieties, GW-624 Monks Metal Signs was one of the most prolific merchants in the series.

Cross References

Fuld 630BB-7a