1863 Civil War Token Store Card - Brooklyn NY - Daniel Williams Grocer - Union - Amazing Piece of History

Awesome 1863 Civil War Store Card Token. Great overall condition. Brooklyn NY, privately issued coin. Read more below about civil war tokens and specifically "store cards".

Civil War Tokens are divided into types: store cards, patriotic tokens, and sutler tokens. All 3 types were used in place of currency. They are differentiated primarily by their designs and compositions. The collectible value of the tokens is determined by their condition and rarity among other factors.

Civil War store cards were used to advertise the name and / or location of privately owned businesses. Those businesses that could afford it, would have had two custom dies made, with both advertising the business. Otherwise, only one side displayed the business's information. There are many store card types from various places. 

Among the best-known varieties of patriotic tokens are the so-called "Dix tokens." They are named for John Adams Dix, who served as Secretary of the Treasury in 1861. In a letter from Dix to a revenue cutter captain, Lieutenant Caldwell, he orders Caldwell to relieve another cutter captain of his command for refusing an order to transfer from New Orleans to New York City. The letter ends with the following sentence: "If any one attempts to haul down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." The quote found its way to a number of patriotic tokens, albeit with a slightly modified wording ("haul down" is usually replaced by "tear it down").

Own a piece of history today with this incredible token!