(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-630BE-6C, NY

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630BE-6C. 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 nickel striking (Fuld 630BE-6C) is scarce among the known varieties. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Pure nickel pieces are harder to strike than copper, contributing to their relative scarcity. 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

Nickel strikings are generally scarcer than copper or brass versions, as nickel was more expensive and harder to strike. With 56 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630BE-6C