Auction #45

USA New York, NY, 1863. Civil War Token F-630BU-3a S. Steinfeld Wine Importer, Copper, Fuld F-630BU-3a.
History:  Simon Steinfeld was a New York City merchant who started advertising himself as the "sole importer and agent" for French Cognac Bitters in 1855. At this point Steinfeld converted his 70 Nassau Street candy and confections store into a saloon. When coins became scarce in 1862, Steinfeld ordered encased postage stamps to make change for his customers. His encasements have a lengthy pitch for French Cognac Bitters: "An unfailing remedy for diseases of the liver and digestive organs." Steinfeld also used Civil War tokens and postage envelopes, and he apparently preferred them since his encasements are extremely rare.