(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-630AB-5d, A. Gavron. NY

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from A. Gavron. of New York. Amelia Gavron operated a sausage-making business at 213 Bowery and 102 Pitt Street in New York City. She is one of the very few female merchants known to have issued Civil War tokens, making her pieces especially significant. Her tokens read "A. GAVRON / SAUSAGES / FOR PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION / 1863" and were struck in copper-nickel. Most varieties are rated R-8 or higher, making Gavron's tokens among the rarest NYC store cards. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 630AB-5d) is somewhat scarce. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. 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 41 cataloged varieties, A. Gavron. was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630AB-5d