(1864) Silver Civil War Store Card F-260A-1f, E.P. Francis MA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Billiard Room & Restaurant, located in Fall River, Massachusetts. Massachusetts was a center of manufacturing and abolitionist sentiment, with Boston and surrounding cities contributing Civil War tokens as emergency currency. The 10 cataloged varieties for Billiard Room & Restaurant indicate a notable level of token production. This silver striking (Fuld 260A-1f) is rare 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 token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced as presentation or collector pieces. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

Rarity Notes

Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced in small quantities for collectors or as special presentation pieces. With 10 cataloged varieties, Billiard Room & Restaurant was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 260A-1f