(1861-65) Brass Civil War Store Card F-165AK-7b, R. Downing OH

Coin Details

Description

R. Downing, a Cincinnati merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Cincinnati was the largest inland city in antebellum America and a critical supply center for the Union Army, driving Ohio to produce more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state. R. Downing issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 165AK-7b) is common to somewhat scarce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

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-7b