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

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630F-1F. 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. This silver striking (Fuld 630F-1F) is rare among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. 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. Silver examples were struck in small quantities, often for collectors or as special orders. 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

Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced in small quantities for collectors or as special presentation pieces. With 10 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630F-1F