(1863) German-Silver Civil War Store Card F-630AP-3j, H.M. Lane NY

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from H.M. Lane of New York, cataloged as Fuld 630AP-3j. H.M. Lane operated a lamp and kerosene oil retail business at 18 Spring Street in New York City. The tokens advertise "LAMPS / KEROSENE OIL & C" and reflect the booming kerosene industry of the 1860s, when whale oil was being rapidly replaced by petroleum-based kerosene for domestic lighting. The german-silver composition of this variety (Fuld 630AP-3j) is scarce for this merchant. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. The German silver alloy gives these tokens an attractive appearance that has made them popular with collectors. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 66 cataloged varieties, H.M. Lane was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630AP-3j