1863 New York NY - Our Country - Broas Brothers Pie Bakers, F-630M-13a, NGC AU55BN. This Choice AU 1863 Civil War Tradesmans token is dark chocolate brown with lighter red-brown highlights. Slight wear, in keeping with the grade, is seen on the highest points. Otherwise, the token is clean with no significant abrasion marks or other distractions. The piece is well struck with strong details on the devices and legends of both sides.

The token advertises the bakery of the Broas brothers. In the outer circle the legend is BROAS BROTHERS*PIE BAKERS*. The inner circle has the inscription OUR COUNTRY in two lines surrounded by a closed wreath. UNITED WE STAND is the legend on the other side with the date below the portrait. George Washington is represented in a right facing undraped bust with flags draped behind on either side. The devices on both sides are encircled with a border of beads.

Tradesmens or merchants tokens were used as a means of advertising during the Civil War. Because of the shortage of regular coinage, they were used as a substitute for government issued currency. Often called Store Cards, they were struck with the name of the establishment in which the token could be redeemed. Eventually the federal government ended this practice with a law that made it illegal in April 1864. In June another law was passed that made all private coinage illegal.