(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-555C-9C, NJ

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from Newark, New Jersey, cataloged as Fuld 555C-9C. New Jersey was a vital industrial and transportation state, with Newark, Trenton, and Paterson as major manufacturing centers where merchants issued Civil War tokens. The nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 555C-9C) is scarce for this merchant. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Nickel strikings are scarcer than copper or brass versions and have a distinctive silvery appearance. 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-9C