Hey! I'm new here, and trying to figure out some information from you Civil War Token Collectors out there! I have come upon an 1863 Broas Bros. Civil War Token that is the Indian Head Variety with "Our Country" in a wreath on the reverse. I can't seem to find this variety anywhere. The pics I have aren't the best, as they were texted to me, but will show you the variety, hopefully. Does anyone have any information they can give me as to the rarity? I know the token is in pretty worn condition... Thanks!
Welcome To Coin Talk. There are some varietys of these Civil War Era, New York, "Store Card". But of cource condition is everything. I would watch E-bay to see what any may be Selling For.
Looked it up in Fuld as a NY-630M-13, but he lists a diff reverse, not the Indian head in your pic. Bowers also lists the same single reverse as Fuld. It's pretty worn but may be worth having a CWT expert take a look at it.
Looks like a 630M-13a obv 1013 rev (second edition of Fuld) Not sure if the variety designation has changed. I don't find it listed in that book.
Does the 630M-13a have the same Obv AND Rev? All the ones that I see online have a reverse that says "One Country" and not "Our Country". I really just want to find the Rarity... I probably will end up selling it on EBay, as that is what I do. Not too worried about the value, as I "acquired" it, and really have nothing in it. Question - Is it best to get a Fuld Book or a "Official Red Book" to get the best info on Civil War Tokens???
I also have another Token that I think is pretty interesting... it is an 1863 Christian Ruah Confectioner Token... It is MUCH better condition and looks to have 6 die cracks on the Reverse ... What do you all think about this one???
FYI. The side with the name of the merchant is considered the Obverse for CWT Storecards. The side with the Indian head and date is considered the reverse. I prefer the Fuld book for attribution but the Bowers book is more up to date with rarities on the major types. My copy of Fuld is the second edition from 1975. I think the CWTS has put out an updated version (or has one in the works) Your Rauh token is NY-630BH-2a
Thank you for the info on that one!!! Also, thank you for the clarification on the Obverse/Reverse nomenclature of the CWTs...
The 3’d Edition of the Fuld Store Card Book has it listed as a NY630-L-19a. Obverse Die is 29340 and reverse die is 1062A It is a Rarity 9 Token, meaning between 2-4 are estimated to exist. Even as worn as your piece is it has significant value. Fuld 3 reworked the Broas token listings which is why the info in earlier posts do not match. By the way, Fuld 3 has a typo on this listing, your token IS Die 29340 without question not as the book says 29310. The legend Our Country shows this. My advice is that you should worry about the value, it is in your best interest. I can’t tell you what it will sell for but perhaps you should look to a specialist token dealer to sell it for you. The best store card book in my opinion is “U.S. Civil War Store Cards” 3’d Edition, 2014, by George and Melvin Fuld. Available from the Civil War Token Society here... http://cwtsociety.com/
This is a NY-630-BH-2a, Rarity 3. Between 501 and 2,000 are estimated to exist. Again Fuld 3 was my reference
WOW! That is awesome! I have had some rare tokens from time to time, but none that rare! I kind of figured that something may be different, as I couldn't find it anywhere online... I DEFINITELY thank you for the information!!! I will do much more research on it now! Thank you SIR!!!
I am debating the Store Card Book... $100 is a bit pricey, but obscure coin books generally are... think its a good investment considering the token that I have???
I think you are right... and it sucks to have to rely on others when I need information... so, I ordered it.
If you join the CWTS there is a nice discount on books. I am told that the new 6th Edition is due out soon. It will be a larger format with color pics like the 3rd Edition of the Store Card Book.
I'd contact Steve Hayden about your token, Dallas. He's a huge CWT seller, and was involved in the new editions of both books. He has a mail bid sale going on right now, so it's too late to include it in this one. Maybe for the next. His website is civilwartokens.com Good luck! Bruce
You can also contact Ernie Latter. On eBay he is cwtguy. He and Steve are two of the biggest CWT specialist dealers. Talk to both of them and make your best deal.