(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165ER-9a, John Ravy OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from John Ravy of Cincinnati, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165ER-9a. 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. The 17 cataloged varieties for John Ravy indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165ER-9a) is common. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. 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

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 17 cataloged varieties, John Ravy was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165ER-9a