(1863) Lead Civil War Store Card F-630AI-1g, William Hastings NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 MS62 01-12-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

William Hastings of New York issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. 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 lead, this die combination (Fuld 630AI-1g) is scarce. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. Lead strikings were produced as trial pieces or die tests before the main production run. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

Lead strikings are uncommon, likely produced as trial pieces or die tests rather than for commercial circulation. With 5 cataloged varieties, William Hastings was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630AI-1g