(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165GI-2a, Weighell & Son's OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$3,600 MS64BN 09-02-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card issued by Weighell & Son's of 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. Weighell & Son's issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165GI-2a) is common. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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 6 cataloged varieties, Weighell & Son's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GI-2a