(1863) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-630AI-1e, William Hastings NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$408 MS66 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

William Hastings of New York issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. 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. Struck in white metal, this die combination (Fuld 630AI-1e) is somewhat scarce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. White metal (a tin-based alloy) pieces are scarcer than copper and often show significant wear from their soft composition. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 5 cataloged varieties, William Hastings was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630AI-1e