(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-100B-5a, E.G. Selbys OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of E.G. Selbys, located in Bryan, Ohio. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. E.G. Selbys issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 100B-5a) is common for this merchant. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 8 cataloged varieties, E.G. Selbys was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 100B-5a