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

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 630T-1F. 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. The silver composition of this variety (Fuld 630T-1F) is rare for this merchant. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Silver examples were struck in small quantities, often for collectors or as special orders. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Silver strikings are considerably scarcer than base metal versions, typically produced in small quantities for collectors or as special presentation pieces. With 7 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 630T-1F