(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-640A-1I, NY

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from New York, cataloged as Fuld 640A-1I. 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. The zinc composition of this variety (Fuld 640A-1I) is scarce for this merchant. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 4 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 640A-1I