Civil War tokens are tangible reminders of American history. These small, cent-sized tokens were privately issued by American tradesmen and others during the Civil war. They were used to advertise businesses and also to grease the wheels of commerce during a nationwide coin shortage. By the summer of 1862, nervous citizens had hoarded all of the nation's gold and silver coins and even its small copper-nickel Flying Eagle and Indian Head one-cent coins. This caused a financial emergency as it became nearly impossible to make change for everyday transactions. Millions of private tokens became substitutes for official U.S. coins from 1862 to 1865, spent and accepted as 1 cent each by the public. Today, these tokens are highly collectible and A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens elevates the collecting and study of these imitation cents to a new level of scholarship and accessibility. Novice and experienced collectors alike, as well as history buffs and everyone interested in the American Civil War, will find this volume a fascinating and indispensable reference.
Inside the 3rd Edition:
- How to identify and collect Civil War patriotic tokens and store cards
- Detailed historical background
- Valuations in multiple circulated and Mint State grades
- Rarity ratings
- More than 2,000 full-color photos
- Legendary rarities; discussions of every known issuer; illustrations and descriptions of nearly every known die; and more
- Dramatically expanded indexes, including die makers and merchant categories.
"A Must-have book for Civil War token collectors. You will benefit from Dave Bower's decades of research, presented in a very readablke format." -John Ostendorf, Civil War Token Society
Table of Contents
Foreword by John Ostendorf
Publisher's Preface
Reminiscence by Dr. George Fuld
Introduction
Style, Terminology, and Arrangement Notes
Chapter 1: Overview and Key to Using This Book
Chapter 2: Before the Civil War
Chapter 3: Money of the Civil War
Chapter 4: Civil War Tokens and the History of Collecting Them
Chapter 5: Aspects of Collecting Civil War Tokens.
Chapter 6: Patriotic Civil War Tokens
Chapter 7: Civil War Store Cards
Appendix A: Selected Civil War Token Engravers and Coiners
Appendix B: Location Unknown Civil War Store Cards
Appendix C: Fuld Numbers Now Non-Contemporary
Appendix D: Non-Contemporary Store Cards, by Issuer
Appendix E: Encased Postage Stamps of 1862
Appendix F: Civil War Sutler Tokens
Notes
Selected Bibliography and Resources
About the Author
Credits and Acknowledgments
General Index
Index of Die-Maker Ascriptions
Index of Store Cards by Occupation or Service
