(1863) Silver Civil War Store Card F-555A-3f, GW-589 J.L. Agens & Co. NJ

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,160 MS64 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

J.L. Agens & Co, a Newark merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. New Jersey was a vital industrial and transportation state, with Newark, Trenton, and Paterson as major manufacturing centers where merchants issued Civil War tokens. The 18 cataloged varieties for J.L. Agens & Co indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in silver, this die combination (Fuld 555A-3f) is rare. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced as presentation or collector pieces.

Rarity Notes

Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced in small quantities for collectors or as special presentation pieces. With 18 cataloged varieties, J.L. Agens & Co was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 555A-3f