(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-530A-1E, MA

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Great Fair in Nantucket, Massachusetts, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Massachusetts was a center of manufacturing and abolitionist sentiment, with Boston and surrounding cities contributing Civil War tokens as emergency currency. Great Fair issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The white metal composition of this variety (Fuld 530A-1E) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. White metal (a tin-based alloy) pieces are scarcer than copper and often show significant wear from their soft composition.

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 6 cataloged varieties, Great Fair was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 530A-1E