(No Date) German-Silver Civil War Store Card F-464A-6j, Petersen's PA

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from Petersen's, a Honesdale, Pennsylvania business. Pennsylvania was the Union's industrial heartland, with Philadelphia as a manufacturing center and Pittsburgh as an iron and steel producer. Petersen's produced 30 cataloged die varieties, reflecting a substantial token operation. The german-silver composition of this variety (Fuld 464A-6j) is scarce for this merchant. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. 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 30 cataloged varieties, Petersen's was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 464A-6j