(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-640B-3a, N'PT & COV KY

Coin Details

Description

N'PT & COV, a Newport merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Kentucky was a critical border state maintaining Union loyalty while deeply divided. Louisville served as a major supply depot and source of merchant tokens. N'PT & COV issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 640B-3a) is common for this merchant. 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. 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 7 cataloged varieties, N'PT & COV was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 640B-3a