Answers
for the Avid Collector
Do you have a question about anything numismatic? Want to know
what’s going on here at Stack’s Bowers Galleries? If so, send your inquiries to
AnswersfortheAvidCollector@StacksBowers.com
and get a response to your important questions from our team of experts!
Question: I’ve heard
rumors of a book on Civil War tokens coming out? Can you give me any updates? –R.K.
Answer: The rumors are true! It is titled A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens: Patriotic
Tokens and Store Cards 1861-1865. This is a history and price guide to
major types, with over 2,000 color illustrations(!) and comprising nearly 400
pages in length. As Whitman has production and distribution facilities second
to none, the retail price of the book will probably be about one half to one
third of what might otherwise be charged. In addition it will be printed on
high quality paper and will be first class throughout. Stack’s Bowers Galleries
will be making an announcement at the appropriate time, and it will be widely
available elsewhere. The project was sent off to be printed recently, and I
expect that within the next month there will be some announcements made. Watch
for them!
The field of Civil War tokens has been of great interest to me for
many years. Basically it is divided into two categories. The first, patriotics,
cover pieces that mainly have subjects related to the Civil War, the American
flag, historical figures and the like, often with patriotic mottos. The names
of the issuers are not given. The second category is that of Civil War store
cards -- bearing information as to a merchant, product or service, and, on the
other side, a stock die such as an Indian head, an eagle, or something else.
Nearly 1,000 different merchants issued these and all are eagerly collected
today. Most of them were in the general area from Tennessee, West Virginia, and
Maryland north to Massachusetts (none were issued in Vermont and there was only
one issuer in each of New Hampshire and Maine), and westward to Iowa and
Minnesota. The most prolific issuers were in Ohio, New York, Illinois, and
Indiana.
Civil War tokens are fascinating to collect as each one has a
story. In addition, great rarities can often be purchased for nominal prices. A
store card for which fewer than a dozen are known can be bought for just a few
hundred dollars in a grade such as Extremely Fine. The Civil War Token Society,
information concerning which can be found on the Internet, serves as a meeting
point for collectors and others interested. The Civil War Token Journal is published at regular intervals and
contains interesting information, items for sale and more.
No comments:
Post a Comment