(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-630AR-1E, NY

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 UNC Details 06-23-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630AR-1E. New York state generated the second-largest body of Civil War token issues, concentrated in New York City but extending to Albany, Troy, Buffalo, and smaller commercial centers. This white metal striking (Fuld 630AR-1E) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. White metal (a tin-based alloy) pieces are scarcer than copper and often show significant wear from their soft composition. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 9 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630AR-1E