1863 Concord NH Joseph G. Wyatt 3 Cents Scrip - July 20th, 1863 - Rare Civil War Era New Hampshire Obsolete Three Cent Store Note

This listing is for the photographed 1863 Concord NH Jos. G. Wyatt 3 Cents Obsolete Merchant Scrip Note. This note was issued on July 20, 1863, for the store of Joseph G. Wyatt in Concord, New Hampshire. Issued and signed, adding to the notes value. Very Good (VG) grade/condition, visible folds and other signs of circulation. Rarity level 5 (R5) according to LaFond's catalogue on New Hampshire Merchant Scrip. Great rarer find with an incredibly interesting history!

In the United States during the 1860s, the issuance of merchant scrip became widespread as a practical response to severe coin shortages caused by the Civil War. As gold and silver coins disappeared from circulation local merchants and businesses began printing their own small denomination notes to facilitate everyday transactions. This “scrip” functioned as a substitute for official currency, acting much like modern-day store credit, allowing customers to buy goods or make change when federal money was scarce. Though unofficial and often limited in where it could be spent, merchant scrip helped keep local economies functioning until a stable supply of national currency returned later in the decade.

Joseph G. Wyatt opened a fish and provision market in Concord in the 1860s. The market was first located at 103 Main St before moving to 1 Warren St by 1870. A year later in 1871 Wyatt was admitted to the New Hampshire Insane Asylum, with his business closing as a result. His mental condition is assumed to have improved by a year later, as he had been released and reopened his market by 1872. The business is present on the 1872 and 1874 directories before likely closing before 1875. 

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1863 Concord NH Joseph G. Wyatt 3 Cents Scrip - July 20th, 1863 - Rare Civil War Era New Hampshire Obsolete Three Cent Store Note