(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-630BE-4E, NY

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630BE-4E. 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 630BE-4E) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. 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. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 56 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630BE-4E