(c.1864) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-630BV-20E, GW-607 Story & Southworth NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 AU58 11-18-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

GW-607 Story & Southworth of New York issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. Story & Southworth operated a grocery store in New York City. While some original wartime varieties are scarce (R-6, with only 21-76 estimated survivors), the series is notable because post-war producers Emil Sigel and Edward Groh later created over 100 additional die combinations using the original obverse die, requiring careful distinction between wartime originals and post-war restrikes. Struck in white metal, this die combination (Fuld 630BV-20E) is somewhat scarce. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. White metal strikings are less common than copper or brass and show more wear due to the soft alloy.

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 111 cataloged varieties, GW-607 Story & Southworth was one of the most prolific merchants in the series.

Cross References

Fuld 630BV-20E