(1861-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-165AK-6b, R. Downing OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from R. Downing of Cincinnati, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165AK-6b. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. R. Downing issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 165AK-6b) is common to somewhat scarce. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, R. Downing was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AK-6b