Collecting American Civil War memorabilia is a fascinating hobby to take up and one that allows the collector to learn much about one of the most important and sad events in the history of the United States. The Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, was a turning point for the young nation. It was a time in which the nation was divided, emotions were heated, and whole families were torn apart as a result of the turmoil.
One of the hottest collectibles from the Civil War period is Civil War tokens. These are actual vintage token coins that replaced money for a short time during the war. And the interesting thing about these tokens is that they were privately minted between 1862 and 1864. Most of the tokens have anywhere from 5,000 to less than five remaining in private hands.
Because of the government's sparseness in issuing metal cents back then, private ones were distributed and used as real money-issuers used nickel, tin, white metal, silver and German silver and rubber. The government in1864 made it illegal to use non-government issued coinage as monetary substitutes. Generally, the more rare a coin from back then, the more it will be worth currently.
If coins don't intrigue your senses, then there are all sorts of other possibilities in starting your first Civil War collectible set. If you like the sound of something directly from the Civil War era, then think about collecting items of slavery. Collectors usually go for sale papers, manumission papers, tags, ads, photos, letters or books. If you'd like to bring history to life, and like sleuthing, find items with autographs or signatures from generals or important persons of the day. Postcards, books, military orders, maps, envelopes, receipts and the like are full of such signatures. You'll find that once you start looking, it becomes hard to stop.
If you'd like to start your vintage Civil War collection with something other than "paper products," then try finding teapots and kettles. Or, you can amass products such as artwork, calendars, figurines, games, guns, military souvenirs, such as ammunition, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, tags and the like. Finding a unique idea will lead you in search at some amazing places. Be sure, however, that such hobbies are a lifetime pursuit and should be something you're really passionate about.
Bullets are a Civil War collectible that are to be found in large abundance. After the bloody battles of the Civil War were finished and the wounded and dead soldiers carried away, the battlefields were left deserted - except for the bullets that were left cluttered in the fields. Civil War bullets were often collected by the townspeople who lived near the battlefield and kept as a reminder of the dangerous battles. These bullets were then often passed down through generations and many have ended up in Civil War collections and can be purchased. These bullets are interesting, and may give the collector an eerie feeling to know that what he/she is holding was once shot out of a gun on a chaotic battlefield. However, it is just because of that feeling that these bullets are such an important collector's item - they truly convey the sense and emotion of the war. The types of guns in which they were shot are used to identify bullets. Some of the more well known are the .69 caliber belonging to a Smoothbore musket and the .55 caliber from the Austrian rifle musket.
For those who wish to gain a better and more experiential understanding of the horrors and critical events and battles which took place during the Civil War, becoming a collector of Civil War memorabilia is an invaluable hobby to take up. Not only is it possible to become familiar with some of the most critical items of the war, such as weapons and bullets, one may also learn more about warships that were used during the war. There are many Civil War collectibles besides the three discussed above - these include manuscripts, buttons, and confederate bonds. As one begins a Civil War collection, all of these items will become a part of the individual collection that is created, and each individual item will in turn contribute to increasing the collector's knowledge of the American Civil War.
One of the hottest collectibles from the Civil War period is Civil War tokens. These are actual vintage token coins that replaced money for a short time during the war. And the interesting thing about these tokens is that they were privately minted between 1862 and 1864. Most of the tokens have anywhere from 5,000 to less than five remaining in private hands.
Because of the government's sparseness in issuing metal cents back then, private ones were distributed and used as real money-issuers used nickel, tin, white metal, silver and German silver and rubber. The government in1864 made it illegal to use non-government issued coinage as monetary substitutes. Generally, the more rare a coin from back then, the more it will be worth currently.
If coins don't intrigue your senses, then there are all sorts of other possibilities in starting your first Civil War collectible set. If you like the sound of something directly from the Civil War era, then think about collecting items of slavery. Collectors usually go for sale papers, manumission papers, tags, ads, photos, letters or books. If you'd like to bring history to life, and like sleuthing, find items with autographs or signatures from generals or important persons of the day. Postcards, books, military orders, maps, envelopes, receipts and the like are full of such signatures. You'll find that once you start looking, it becomes hard to stop.
If you'd like to start your vintage Civil War collection with something other than "paper products," then try finding teapots and kettles. Or, you can amass products such as artwork, calendars, figurines, games, guns, military souvenirs, such as ammunition, clothing, hats, caps, boots, shoes, tags and the like. Finding a unique idea will lead you in search at some amazing places. Be sure, however, that such hobbies are a lifetime pursuit and should be something you're really passionate about.
Bullets are a Civil War collectible that are to be found in large abundance. After the bloody battles of the Civil War were finished and the wounded and dead soldiers carried away, the battlefields were left deserted - except for the bullets that were left cluttered in the fields. Civil War bullets were often collected by the townspeople who lived near the battlefield and kept as a reminder of the dangerous battles. These bullets were then often passed down through generations and many have ended up in Civil War collections and can be purchased. These bullets are interesting, and may give the collector an eerie feeling to know that what he/she is holding was once shot out of a gun on a chaotic battlefield. However, it is just because of that feeling that these bullets are such an important collector's item - they truly convey the sense and emotion of the war. The types of guns in which they were shot are used to identify bullets. Some of the more well known are the .69 caliber belonging to a Smoothbore musket and the .55 caliber from the Austrian rifle musket.
For those who wish to gain a better and more experiential understanding of the horrors and critical events and battles which took place during the Civil War, becoming a collector of Civil War memorabilia is an invaluable hobby to take up. Not only is it possible to become familiar with some of the most critical items of the war, such as weapons and bullets, one may also learn more about warships that were used during the war. There are many Civil War collectibles besides the three discussed above - these include manuscripts, buttons, and confederate bonds. As one begins a Civil War collection, all of these items will become a part of the individual collection that is created, and each individual item will in turn contribute to increasing the collector's knowledge of the American Civil War.
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