(1863) Silver Civil War Store Card F-630BB-11F, GW-628 Monk's Metal Signs NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,200 MS63 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

Merchant token from GW-628 Monk's Metal Signs of New York, cataloged as Fuld 630BB-11F. New York state generated the second-largest body of Civil War token issues, concentrated in New York City but extending to Albany, Troy, Buffalo, and smaller commercial centers. This silver striking (Fuld 630BB-11F) is rare among the known varieties. 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. Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced as presentation or collector pieces. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced in small quantities for collectors or as special presentation pieces. With 81 cataloged varieties, GW-628 Monk's Metal Signs was one of the most prolific merchants in the series.

Cross References

Fuld 630BB-11F