(1864) German-Silver Civil War Store Card F-700D-2j, H. Dobson RI

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 700D-2j — store card of Arcade House, Providence, Rhode Island. Providence was an important manufacturing center, particularly in textiles and jewelry. The city's merchants issued Civil War tokens to maintain daily commerce. The 14 cataloged varieties for Arcade House indicate a notable level of token production. This german-silver striking (Fuld 700D-2j) is scarce among the known varieties. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The German silver alloy gives these tokens an attractive appearance that has made them popular with collectors. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 14 cataloged varieties, Arcade House was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 700D-2j