(1863) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-700C-3e, Charnley RI

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Charnley in Providence, Rhode Island, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Providence was an important manufacturing center, particularly in textiles and jewelry. The city's merchants issued Civil War tokens to maintain daily commerce. With 3 known varieties, Charnley produced a modest number of token types. This white metal striking (Fuld 700C-3e) is somewhat scarce 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. 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 3 cataloged varieties, Charnley was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 700C-3e