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

Coin Details

Auction Record

$456 AU55 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630R-1J. 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. Struck in german silver, this die combination (Fuld 630R-1J) is scarce. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. German silver pieces have a silvery-white color that distinguishes them from the more common copper and brass strikings.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 1 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 630R-1J