(No Date) Brass Civil War Store Card F-630AP-12b, H. M. Lane NY

Coin Details

Description

Store card of H. M. Lane in New York, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. H.M. Lane operated a lamp and kerosene oil retail business at 18 Spring Street in New York City. The tokens advertise "LAMPS / KEROSENE OIL & C" and reflect the booming kerosene industry of the 1860s, when whale oil was being rapidly replaced by petroleum-based kerosene for domestic lighting. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 630AP-12b) is common to somewhat scarce. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 66 cataloged varieties, H. M. Lane was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630AP-12b