(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-555C-8C, NJ

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from Newark, New Jersey, cataloged as Fuld 555C-8C. New Jersey was a vital industrial and transportation state, with Newark, Trenton, and Paterson as major manufacturing centers where merchants issued Civil War tokens. Struck in nickel, this die combination (Fuld 555C-8C) is 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. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Pure nickel pieces are harder to strike than copper, contributing to their relative scarcity. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Nickel strikings are generally scarcer than copper or brass versions, as nickel was more expensive and harder to strike. With 38 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 555C-8C