(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-630BB-14C, NY

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630BB-14C. New York was the nation's commercial capital, with New York City alone producing hundreds of store card varieties from Broadway retailers to waterfront wholesalers. The nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 630BB-14C) is scarce for this merchant. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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. Pure nickel pieces are harder to strike than copper, contributing to their relative scarcity. 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

Nickel strikings are generally scarcer than copper or brass versions, as nickel was more expensive and harder to strike. With 81 cataloged varieties, this merchant was one of the most prolific merchants in the series.

Cross References

Fuld 630BB-14C