(1863) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-630AD-1e, GW-580 H.D. Gerdts

Coin Details

Auction Record

$2,640 MS62 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War token cataloged as Fuld 630AD-1e, featuring a George Washington medal or token (GW-580). Location Unknown tokens like this one feature dies with patriotic or political designs but no merchant or geographic identification, suggesting speculative production by die sinkers. Struck in white metal (a tin-based alloy), a scarce composition. Surviving white metal examples often show more wear than copper or brass counterparts due to the soft metal. Dated 1863, the peak year of Civil War token production when the coin shortage was most acute. New York City produced over half of all Civil War tokens, with additional output from Waterbury, Connecticut (center of the brass industry) and Cincinnati, Ohio. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses capable of striking several hundred pieces per hour. The largest manufacturers maintained multiple presses to meet wartime demand.

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 1 cataloged varieties, GW-580 H.D. Gerdts was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630AD-1e