1863 CWT New York Store Card - F Rollwagen R2 630BI-2a Great Civil War Token / Store Card - MS 63 RB Start Price USD 99.00 Current Price USD 99.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 175.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, November 27, 2008 End Time Sunday, December 07, 2008 Location Stamford, Connecticut See more about '1863 CWT New York Store Card - F Rollwagen R2' Description alwashin Store   1863 CWT New York Store Card - F Rollwagen R2       Frederick Rollwagen Jr, New York, Civil War Token, 1863ANACS Graded MS63 RB630BI-2a, Rarity 2 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 New York High grade and Mint State condition Civil War Token, nice attractive Brown Color with nice mint red. Free shipping!                 Visit my ebay store for other high-grade Civil War Tokens and StoreCardsHistory and Significance Civil War Tokens and Store Cards                  Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Civil War: United States of America "Union" vs. Confederate States of America "Confederacy" Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Civil War tokens were a private effort to alleviate the coin shortage caused by the Confederate rebellion. Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 In late 1861, the U.S. government suspended specie (i.e. gold or silver coins) payment of its obligations, causing the precious metals market to rise sharply, which in turn, caused even more coins to vanish from circulation, including the copper-nickel (88% copper, 12% nickel) Indian Head cent. By the end of 1862, virtually all coins had disappeared from commerce.  The Philadelphia Mint continued to issue new coins, but these were quickly gobbled up and set aside by the public. In the absence of coinage, completing everyday business transactions became difficult.  The national economy threatened to grind to a halt.  For instance, shopkeepers couldn’t make small change for their customers.  For some history of Civil War Store Cards, we can reference the excellent introduction of “U.S. Civil War Store Cards” by George and Melvin Fuld : "Early in 1862 all metallic currency was gradually withdrawn from circulation. Citizens, anticipating the possible increase in value of all metals, commenced hoarding gold, silver and even copper to such an extent that in a short time there were no metallic coins of any denomination in circulation. Tradesman were thus forced to issue a medium that would supply the place of small coins, and the first of these issued on account of the lack of the proper Government currency made their first appearance in Cincinnati in the Fall of 1862. In the Spring of 1863, New York followed this example. The first to be made in New York was the Lindenmueller currency, of which a million pieces were struck. William H. Bridgens, the die-cutter, then issued the Knickerbocker currency, which consisted of numerous varieties, and were struck in large quantities." "The issue of similar pieces became general throughout the Eastern and Middle Western States, until it was estimated that not less than 25,000,000 of these private tokens were in general circulation, which must have included between 7,000 and 8,000 varieties." "These little coins filled the wants of the trades-people, and were accepted as a means of exchange for the value, which was usually one cent. They undoubtedly were a source of great relief and convenience; but their irresponsible character soon attracted the attention of the Federal Authorities. It is said that the Third Avenue Railroad of New York requested Lindenmueller to redeem a large number of his tokens, which they accepted in the course of business, but he laughingly refused to do. The railroad had no redress, and it is not improbable that incidents of this character forced the Government to put a stop to their issue. This was done by the passage of an act of Congress in 1864, forbidding private individuals from issuing any form of money."New York and Frederick Rollwagen Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Frederick Rollwagen Jr. was a native of Elsass, of German lineage. He came to this country in 1829, he was a pork butcher by occupation and by economy and attention to his business made a large fortune, also was the principal depot in 1863 of the French Cognac Bitters.  In the early 1800's, in New York City, at the junction of Baxter, Centre, and Grand Streets, was the Centre Market. It is this area that people gathered to buy their goods as well as exchange news. There was an area with long benches and a soapbox where people could hold open forum to discuss topics of the day. The Centre Market was a place where the local butchers and tradesmen gathered to discuss the latest news.                                       Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Ninth Avenue, Elevated Railroad north from 42nd St., showing station at W. 42nd St. Photograph by J.A. Powelson, May 12, 1876. New York Historical Society  source: www.cwtsociety.com, Fuld: "U.S. Civil war Store Cards",  and other sources Terms / Shipping / Handling Information Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 Please read and understand our full terms of sale. By bidding on our item, you agree to our terms of sale. We reserve the right of refusing bids from buyers with any type of negative feedback. International buyers please contact me before bidding Payment and Insurance Information: You must pay the item at no later than 7 days after the item ended.If you pay by check, we will ship the item once check clears.All items are sent via First Class US mail. Shipping and Handling and Insurance, Free Items are sold as is. While we make the best effort to attribute pieces correctly, we make no guarantees on the attribution.  Please make sure you know what you are bidding on. Please ask questions BEFORE bidding on the item. Place a Bid!