(1863) Zinc Civil War Store Card F-105I-4i, Geo. Gage NY

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 105I-4i — store card of Geo. Gage, New York. 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 zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 105I-4i) is scarce for this merchant. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable. The Civil War token series provides one of the most comprehensive records of mid-nineteenth century American retail commerce, documenting businesses that left few other historical traces. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 10 cataloged varieties, Geo. Gage was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 105I-4i