Q. David Bowers has written a new book on Civil War tokens:
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Whitman Publishing Releases New Bowers Guide to Civil War Tokens
(Atlanta, Georgia)—Whitman Publishing announces the release of A Guide Book
of Civil War Tokens, by Q. David Bowers. The 448-page book debuted at the
American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Chicago, August 13, 2013.
Bowers autographed copies at the Whitman Publishing booth and presented the
book at the Civil War Token Society meeting on August 15. A Guide Book of Civil
War Tokens can be borrowed for free by members of the American Numismatic
Association, from the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library.
Civil War tokens are small cent–sized tokens, mostly of copper or brass, that were
issued by private firms to serve as emergency money during the small-change shortage
of 1862 to 1865. As the military conflict dragged on, Americans hoarded any gold, silver,
and eventually even copper U.S. coins they received in change, keeping them as hedges
against wartime economic uncertainty. Civil War tokens, privately issued by hundreds of
merchants and organizations and minted in the millions, were used as substitutes for
hoarded “pennies” to make change for small purchases. Today these tokens are highly
collectible, with values generally ranging from $15 for common, circulated pieces to more
than $15,000 for rarities.
Bowers, widely regarded as the “Dean of American Numismatics,” wrote A Guide Book
of Civil War Tokens with the cooperation of the Civil War Token Society, the American
Numismatic Society, the Token and Medal Society, the American Numismatic Association,
and other leading organizations, museums, libraries, collectors, dealers, and researchers.
The book includes more than 2,000 full-color images, plus values in multiple grades, rarity
ratings, detailed historical background, a study of how Civil War tokens were manufactured,
ways to collect them, identification of unusual varieties, and information on the potential for
valuable new discoveries. It covers both patriotic tokens and “store cards” (merchant
advertising tokens). Much of the information has never been published in book form.
Nearly every known die is described in both pictures and text.
“The Guide Book of Civil War Tokens is a unique reference,” said Whitman publisher
Dennis Tucker. “It is the only modern price guide to Civil War tokens on the market today.
The cover price is about what a single average copper token costs in Very Fine condition.
With that small investment a reader will become an expert on Civil War tokens.” Speaking
at a “Money Talks” presentation with Bowers at the ANA 2013 World’s Fair of Money,
Tucker called the book “absolutely essential for dealers, collectors, and appraisers.”
“No book on how to collect Civil War tokens has ever been as thorough,” said Dr. George
Fuld, a published expert in the field. “I expect that it will be a standard reference for years
to come.” Fred Reed, another expert on Civil War money and editor of the Token and
Medal Society Journal, said, “Every collector of this series will esteem this volume, and
every historian or serious writer on the Civil War should consult its colorful pages in the future.”
# # #
A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens
Volume 16 in the Bowers Series
By Q. David Bowers ∙ Foreword by Fred L. Reed ∙ Reminiscence by Dr. George Fuld
ISBN 0794824536 ∙ 448 pages ∙ 6 x 9 inches, softcover ∙ Full color
Contents: Introduction ∙ Style, Terminology, and Arrangement Notes ∙ Chapter 1:
Overview and Key to Using This Book ∙ Chapter 2: Before the Civil War ∙ Chapter 3: Money
of the Civil War ∙ Chapter 4: Civil War Tokens and the History of Collecting Them ∙ Chapter 5:
Aspects of Collecting Civil War Tokens ∙ Chapter 6: Patriotic Civil War Tokens ∙ Chapter 7: Civil
War Store Cards ∙ Appendices: Selected Civil War Token Engravers and Coiners; Location Unknown
Civil War Store Cards; Fuld Numbers Now Non-Contemporary; Non-Contemporary Store Cards, by Issuer;
Encased Postage Stamps of 1862 ∙ Notes ∙ About the Author ∙ Credits and Acknowledgments ∙ Index
(Atlanta, Georgia)—Whitman Publishing announces the release of A Guide Book
of Civil War Tokens, by Q. David Bowers. The 448-page book debuted at the
American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Chicago, August 13, 2013.
Bowers autographed copies at the Whitman Publishing booth and presented the
book at the Civil War Token Society meeting on August 15. A Guide Book of Civil
War Tokens can be borrowed for free by members of the American Numismatic
Association, from the Dwight N. Manley Numismatic Library.
Civil War tokens are small cent–sized tokens, mostly of copper or brass, that were
issued by private firms to serve as emergency money during the small-change shortage
of 1862 to 1865. As the military conflict dragged on, Americans hoarded any gold, silver,
and eventually even copper U.S. coins they received in change, keeping them as hedges
against wartime economic uncertainty. Civil War tokens, privately issued by hundreds of
merchants and organizations and minted in the millions, were used as substitutes for
hoarded “pennies” to make change for small purchases. Today these tokens are highly
collectible, with values generally ranging from $15 for common, circulated pieces to more
than $15,000 for rarities.
Bowers, widely regarded as the “Dean of American Numismatics,” wrote A Guide Book
of Civil War Tokens with the cooperation of the Civil War Token Society, the American
Numismatic Society, the Token and Medal Society, the American Numismatic Association,
and other leading organizations, museums, libraries, collectors, dealers, and researchers.
The book includes more than 2,000 full-color images, plus values in multiple grades, rarity
ratings, detailed historical background, a study of how Civil War tokens were manufactured,
ways to collect them, identification of unusual varieties, and information on the potential for
valuable new discoveries. It covers both patriotic tokens and “store cards” (merchant
advertising tokens). Much of the information has never been published in book form.
Nearly every known die is described in both pictures and text.
“The Guide Book of Civil War Tokens is a unique reference,” said Whitman publisher
Dennis Tucker. “It is the only modern price guide to Civil War tokens on the market today.
The cover price is about what a single average copper token costs in Very Fine condition.
With that small investment a reader will become an expert on Civil War tokens.” Speaking
at a “Money Talks” presentation with Bowers at the ANA 2013 World’s Fair of Money,
Tucker called the book “absolutely essential for dealers, collectors, and appraisers.”
“No book on how to collect Civil War tokens has ever been as thorough,” said Dr. George
Fuld, a published expert in the field. “I expect that it will be a standard reference for years
to come.” Fred Reed, another expert on Civil War money and editor of the Token and
Medal Society Journal, said, “Every collector of this series will esteem this volume, and
every historian or serious writer on the Civil War should consult its colorful pages in the future.”
# # #
A Guide Book of Civil War Tokens
Volume 16 in the Bowers Series
By Q. David Bowers ∙ Foreword by Fred L. Reed ∙ Reminiscence by Dr. George Fuld
ISBN 0794824536 ∙ 448 pages ∙ 6 x 9 inches, softcover ∙ Full color
Contents: Introduction ∙ Style, Terminology, and Arrangement Notes ∙ Chapter 1:
Overview and Key to Using This Book ∙ Chapter 2: Before the Civil War ∙ Chapter 3: Money
of the Civil War ∙ Chapter 4: Civil War Tokens and the History of Collecting Them ∙ Chapter 5:
Aspects of Collecting Civil War Tokens ∙ Chapter 6: Patriotic Civil War Tokens ∙ Chapter 7: Civil
War Store Cards ∙ Appendices: Selected Civil War Token Engravers and Coiners; Location Unknown
Civil War Store Cards; Fuld Numbers Now Non-Contemporary; Non-Contemporary Store Cards, by Issuer;
Encased Postage Stamps of 1862 ∙ Notes ∙ About the Author ∙ Credits and Acknowledgments ∙ Index
0
Comments
Any words on what form of the book is best, what type of e reader it is aimed at etc?
<< <i>Any words on what form of the book is best, what type of e reader it is aimed at etc? >>
I've discussed your question with our I.T. team. The e-book versions aren't aimed at
any particular device. Naturally, the larger the device you're using, the better your "user
experience" will be for any given book, especially with lots of images.
Wow, I had no idea a Civil War token could be worth so much. Which ones?? Any pics??
A token with this die in MS-66RD sold for $20,000 about 10 years ago. I believe that is the record they are talking about. Link
btw, my token is on the cover page
.
CoinsAreFun Toned Silver Eagle Proof Album
.
Gallery Mint Museum, Ron Landis& Joe Rust, The beginnings of the Golden Dollar
.
More CoinsAreFun Pictorials NGC
<< <i>""[worth } . . . . . up to $15,000 for rarities" ! ! !
Wow, I had no idea a Civil War token could be worth so much. Which ones?? Any pics?? >>
Chump change... Hard Times Token rarities can fetch well over $100K
Didn't wanna get me no trade
Never want to be like papa
Working for the boss every night and day
--"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
Hoard the keys.