(1863) Tin Civil War Store Card F-890E-11b, (ipl) -Plated Robinson & Ballou NY

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from (ipl) -Plated Robinson & Ballou of New York, cataloged as Fuld 890E-11b. 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. The tin composition of this variety (Fuld 890E-11b) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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. White metal strikings are less common than copper or brass and show more wear due to the soft alloy. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

Rarity Notes

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 15 cataloged varieties, (ipl) -Plated Robinson & Ballou was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 890E-11b