(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-750V-2a, N. & G. Taylor Co. PA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of GW-557 N & G. Taylor Co., located in Phila, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. GW-557 N & G. Taylor Co. issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 750V-2a) is common among the known varieties. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. 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. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 6 cataloged varieties, GW-557 N & G. Taylor Co. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 750V-2a