Hi Folks I have come across a Merchant Token from my dads old collection. It is the only one so I hope someone has some info on it. I would post a pic but can't figure how to adjust size I'll describe it and hope for the best - Size - lincoln cent Condition - Good w/heavy tarnish, almost black Obverse - Spread wing Eagle, dated 1863 Reverse - GEO. KANE DEALER IN FINE FAMILY GROCERIES No 10 SPRING ST. MILWALKEE I know some of these tokens are very common and some are very rare. Any info would be helpful. Does anyone know of a web site that tokens can be researched without buying a $1000 worth of books? I'm on fixed income and don't have the funds to start a new section of my library for a small handful of tokens. Thanks
There are many sites on tokens, which one would be of the most use to you is the question. We have a memeber, cwtokenman, who will likely be able to help you once he stops by.
it sounds to me like a civil war token, i don't kow how much its worth but it probebly depends on condition, From what you said it sounds brass, or copper
Hi Ron, sorry to take so long to see your post, working way too many hours to have much of a life. You have what is known as a U.S. Civil War Store Card token. While Milwaukee had quite a few issuers of such tokens, and many of them with multiple varieties, your token is the sole variety for that merchant. It is Fuld id # WI 510S-1a, and has an R5 rarity (on a scale of 1 to 10). The reverse (eagle) die is known as die # 1194. The R5 rarity indicates that there are between 75 to 200 examples known of this token. That is kind of a "medium scarcity" rating for cwts. Value for circulated grades does not change much, listing at $60 in F/VF and $80 in XF. Unc value is shown at $150. Values are from the most current book available, dated 2002. This token was produced by John Marr, 8 Wisconsin Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. John Marr, associated in business with Peter L. Mossin, produced virtually all of Milwaukee's Civil War Store cards as well as most of Wisconsin's and a few in Minnesota and Illinois. Their tokens are on thick, broad planchets with upset rims, pronounced denticles, and high relief striking. The workmanship is excellent. The firm also produced a small amount of Patriotic Civil War tokens, all of which are scarce/rare. If you wish to purchase your own reference books for Civil War tokens, there are three books that are necessities: U.S. Civil War Store Cards, 2nd edition, by George and Melvin Fuld. hard cover, about 650 pages. sales on ebay, when offered, usually go between $45 and $80. I checked Amazon once, they wanted $140. Patriotic Civil War tokens, also by George and Melvin Fuld. hard cover, about 360 pages. sales on ebay are more frequent than for the store card book, and prices are usually in the $15 to $35 range. The Civil War Token Collectors Guide by Bryon Kanzinger. soft or hard cover. I have both (actually 4 copies between home and work) but I prefer the softcover as I flip thru it quite often. I believe full list is $27, but can be had for around $20 on ebay, perhaps even slightly less. Do NOT buy the small black softcover books about Civil War tokens, also by the Fulds. Those books are of such an abbreviated nature, that they have very little value to a collector IMO. As long as you are not in any huge rush to identify your tokens (my time is very limited, unfortunately) I would be glad to help you out, and I do enjoy doing it. I have over 100 reference books just on tokens and other exonumia. While I can cover many types of tokens, there are still many types not yet covered.
After re-reading youngcollector's post, I realized that I forgot to mention metals. The lower case "a" at the end of the id number indicates copper. Since this is the only variety, no other metals are listed, but that does not mean you can not have an unlisted metal. I have about 1/2 dozen or so unlisted off-metal cwts. Value would be substantially higher if the metal was other than copper. After all these years, the tpg's have still not figured out the Fuld id system works (which essentially every cwt collector uses), as the tpgs always use an upper case letter at the end. For letters following the numerical portion of an id, an upper case letter designates a die variety (if needed), while lower case is always used to designate the metal.
cwtokenman Thank You Very Much for the info and the book titles. I'll try to find one. The only question I have is - why are they called store CARDS? Thanks Again Ron F.
A very good question, Ron. One for which I could not find a definitive answer in my references, so I will give it a shot off the top of my head. First, the answer may lie in how meanings of words may have changed with time, so that a past meaning may have become obscure and/or discontinued. I agree that our modern day language would find few people, especially those outside the hobby, applying the term "card" to any sort of token or round metallic object. The following are present day terms to describe three types of Civil War tokens: The definition of a Civil War Store Card is that it is a type of cwt on which the issuer's (merchant's) name, initials, or business appears on at least one side of the token. The other main type is a Patriotic, which is an anonymous token (no issuer's name, business or initials). These frequently display a patriotic device and/or patriotic description. There are also what are known as half cards, which have one patriotic die and one store card die. The store card dies used to make this type of token advertises goods and services in words or illustrations without listing a merchant's name (or initials) that would automatically classify the token as a store card. My feeling is that the term "card" or "store card" may have been applied to tokens as in reference to their use as either a business or advertising card. These tokens would have been much more durable than paper or cardboard, not to mention that the metal itself had value, so it would not be as likely to be thrown away (and one cent was not something to be throw away in those days). More bang for the buck, so to speak, when compared to less durable mediums. One thing I can say for certain though, as far as why they are referred to as "cards" is that is exactly what people of that period referred to them as - metallic cards (in a general sense). So, it would make perfect sense therefore, to refer to such cards which were manufactured for store use as a "store card". As an example, look at ebay auction 8345587597, hopefully which the following link will take you to. Lanphear was a die sinker in Cincinnati, and was a maker of such custom cards. He was also rather prolific in varieties advertising his own business, of which I counted 214 token id numbers. Some of these advertise that he manufactures store cards as well as metallic cards. http://cgi.ebay.com/1863-Cincinnati...8345587597QQcategoryZ3456QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem As a side note, this particular token also is one of many that contained spelling errors as there are two L's in metallic. Hopefully you will find this to be a satisfactory answer to your question.
You are very welcome Ron. Exonumia includes essentailly any topic one can think of, as well as a huge host of names and locations (I especially am interested in my hometown tokens and ones with my surname on them), not to mention some very interesting history and reading to go along with them.
