(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-640B-2B, KY

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 640B-2B — store card of N'PT & COV, Newport, Kentucky. Kentucky was a critical border state maintaining Union loyalty while deeply divided. Louisville served as a major supply depot and source of merchant tokens. N'PT & COV issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 640B-2B) is common to somewhat 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. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 7 cataloged varieties, N'PT & COV was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 640B-2B