Token F-*80B-1A NY

Coin Details

Description

This token bears a New York attribution in the Fuld catalog with an asterisk designation, indicating a recently discovered or unconfirmed merchant attribution. New York City was one of the largest producers of Civil War store cards, with hundreds of merchants commissioning tokens from die sinkers like the Lovett family, John Stanton, and others. These asterisk-numbered pieces represent ongoing research into the enormous body of New York Civil War tokens. The copper planchet gave this token an appearance closely resembling contemporary United States cents, facilitating its acceptance in daily commerce. Copper merchant tokens of this type circulated widely as advertising pieces and emergency small change. Cataloged as Fuld *80B-1A in the Fuld Civil War token reference. The craftsmanship of merchant store card dies reflects the skill of 19th century American die sinkers, who produced detailed designs using hand-cut steel dies. The numismatic market for merchant store cards has grown steadily, with rare varieties commanding significant premiums at major auctions.

Rarity Notes

Copper striking, the standard metal for merchant tokens of this period. Fuld *80B-1A. Unattributed New York Merchant issued 2 known token varieties.

Cross References

Fuld *80B-1A