(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-630K-3C, NY

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630K-3C. 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. Struck in nickel, this die combination (Fuld 630K-3C) is scarce. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Nickel tokens were produced in smaller quantities than the standard copper issues. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Nickel strikings are generally scarcer than copper or brass versions, as nickel was more expensive and harder to strike. With 44 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630K-3C