"RARE" Civil War Store Card Token?

Discussion in 'Coin Chat' started by StevenHarden, Jun 13, 2019.

  1. StevenHarden

    StevenHarden Well-Known Member

    Hello All.

    I have a Newport, Kentucky "Newport & Covington Bridge Company" token (CWT 640B). Russell Rulau's 4th edition of "Standard Catalog of United States Tokens 1700-1900" (2004) gives this a rarity of R7. Other online sources give a rarity of R8. In all cases I have seen, these are all listed as having a REEDED edge. The difference in the piece that I have is that is has a PLAIN edge.

    My question is whether this is a variation from the "regular" reeded edge token, or if there is a plain edge token known. Also, I suppose there is a case where this could be a counterfeit, but everything seems to be alright with it. Any help on identifying this as an already-known variety, or verifying the authenticity of this piece would be greatly appreciated. Also, Russell Rulau's book lists CWT# 640B-3a as having no value in VG, VF, and Unc, but shows "RARE" in the EF column. Any information on a value, along with any guesses on how this might grade, would help.

    OBVERSE CWT_640B_obv.jpg
    REVERSE
    CWT_640B_rev.jpg
    SIDE-VIEW #1 CWT_640B_side1.jpg SIDE-VIEW #2
    CWT_640B-side2.jpg
    SIDE-VIEW #3
    CWT_640B_side3.jpg

    THANK YOU.
     
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  3. StevenHarden

    StevenHarden Well-Known Member

    I did happen to find some more information on the "Newport and Covington Bridge Company" piece, but only about the REEDED item.

    The Spring 2016 Issue of "The Civil War Token Journal", page 29-30, contained a list of "Tanenbaum Civil War Tokens for Sale. Within that list was KY-640-B-3a (R8), MS-65RB (NGC) for sale for $1,980.
    https://archive.org/stream/civilwartokenjou50n1civi/civilwartokenjou50n1civi_djvu.txt

    In the June, 2017 Baltimore, Maryland Stack's Bowers auction, an MS65RB example from the Stephen Tanenbaum, Herman Aqua, and Q. David Bowers collection sold for $646.25
    https://auctions.stacksbowers.com/l...arity-8-copper-reeded-edge-19-mm-ms-65-rb-ngc


    My guess is that the two pieces above are the same item.

    Even so, this all still refers to a piece with a REEDED edge. The piece that I am in possession of is one with a PLAIN edge. I have yet to find any reference that indicates the existence of a PLAIN edge variety.

    Again, any help on this would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank You.
     
  4. Paul M.

    Paul M. Well-Known Member

    I agree, this is a most unusual piece and possibly a new discovery. I do not believe it is fake, but it would be good to compare it to a known authentic example of
    640B-3a.

    I would try contacting the Civil War Token Society. They have a Yahoo group that seems pretty dead, but I think the board members' emails are published in every issue. If not:
    Between those three, if they haven't heard of it, then it's definitely either a fake or a new discovery.
     
  5. johnmilton

    johnmilton Well-Known Member

    This piece appears to be a KY 640-2a, which means it's made of copper with store card obverse die # 1034 paired with it. In the new store card book, third edition, it is listed as a plain edge variety. It is rated as an R-8.

    The Newport & Covington Bridge Co. office was at the east end of the bridge. It was chartered on January 1, 1852 with $75,000 in capital. The new store card book lists the officers, but I don't know that that is of great interest since they are not famous people.
     
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