(c.1864) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-630BJ-1e, GW-673 NY Sanitary Fair NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$1,740 MS64 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Merchant token from GW-673 NY Sanitary Fair of New York, cataloged as Fuld 630BJ-1e. 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. This white metal striking (Fuld 630BJ-1e) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. White metal (a tin-based alloy) pieces are scarcer than copper and often show significant wear from their soft composition. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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, GW-673 NY Sanitary Fair was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630BJ-1e