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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;jester3681, post: 2439305, member: 53130&quot;](<i>I wrote this entry for my website and eBay. Thought I&#039;d share it here for anyone ready to dip their toes into the pool of Civil War tokens! All pictures are courtesy of PCGS and tokens are from my collection.</i>)</p><p><br /></p><p>One of my favorite areas of numismatics is the category of exonumia known as Civil War tokens, struck and used during the war (1861-1865). These pieces were struck privately, and although Southern states used them, they were much more common in the Midwest and Atlantic states of the Union. Like Hard Times tokens struck several decades earlier, Civil War tokens were a response to a shortage of specie in regular circulation during the war. Civil War tokens are classified in three major groups: patriotic tokens, store cards, and sutler tokens.</p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://jsesterly.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/60_1-300x150.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p>Patriotic tokens featured imagery and slogans that were patriotic in nature. Southern patriotic tokens are all but unheard of, so most of this type support the Union. This group of tokens is cataloged extensively in <i>Patriotic Civil War Tokens</i> by George and Melvin Fuld, in its fifth edition.</p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://jsesterly.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/60_2-300x150.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p>Store cards were struck for businesses to use during the war. This type featured advertising information for the business. Although some store cards featured personalized information on both sides, many used a stock die on one side and a personalized die on the other. This allows collectors to identify the die sinker used by the stock die used. This group of tokens is cataloged in <i>U.S. Civil War Storecards</i>, also by the brothers Fuld, in its third edition featuring full color photos.</p><p style="text-align: center"><img src="http://jsesterly.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/60_3-300x150.png" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /> </p><p>Sutler tokens are a unique class of Civil War tokens. These were issued by sutlers to be used by the enlisted men, and featured the regiment and often the sutler’s name. Due to the nature of these issues, the general survival rate of these tokens is much lower than the other two groups, and as such these are often more expensive. Sutler tokens are cataloged in Civil War Sutler Tokens &amp; Cardboard Scrip by David Schenkman, in its second edition.</p><p><br /></p><p>There are into the tens of thousands of individual varieties of Civil War tokens, offering the numismatist many challenging ways to collect. One collector may choose to collect tokens from their city or state, while another may focus on a particular die sinker. The variety of imagery and subject matter used also offers a challenge: perhaps you choose to collect tokens featuring boots, locks, stoves, or animal images (all of these are most certainly available!). Another choice may be to collect tokens issued by a certain type of business, such as breweries or the die sinkers themselves. Some collectors may even seek out those struck in a particular material, such as silver or hard rubber.</p><p><br /></p><p>Civil War tokens can be an affordable way to collect an important piece of history. In circulated condition, common varieties can be found for less than $20. Even mint state examples can be tracked down for less than $100. Less common types can become expensive, and the rarest examples can trade for thousands of dollars. As with any aspect of numismatics, do some research first by checking auction records and sale histories to determine the value of the piece you decide to buy – rarity ratings may not always be a firm indicator of price or value.</p><p><br /></p><p>Speaking of rarity, the Fuld brothers developed a rarity scale for use with Civil War tokens, based on a survival of approximately one million tokens. This scale ranges from R-1 (very common, 5000+) to R-10 (unique, 1). Again, a common token may be expensive and a rare token may be affordable based on the current market and demand for the type.</p><p><br /></p><p>Interested in learning more? I recommend the three guides already listed above. There are several other guides of a more general nature available, including <i>The Civil War Token Collectors Guide</i> by Bryon Kanzinger which explores town rarity and offers some pricing information. <i>The Whitman Guidebook of Civil War Tokens</i> by Q. David Bowers is another great guide, and may be the best place to start for someone just getting their toes wet with Civil War tokens. Additionally, the Civil War Token Society (<a href="http://www.cwtsociety.com" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.cwtsociety.com" rel="nofollow">www.cwtsociety.com</a>) is a wonderful group to join if this section of numismatics catches your fancy![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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