(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165GI-3a, Weighell & Son's OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Weighell & Son's in Ohio. Ohio produced more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state, driven by Cincinnati's role as the largest inland city and a Union Army supply hub. Weighell & Son's issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165GI-3a) is common. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Merchants who issued tokens during the Civil War provided a critical public service by maintaining the ability to make change for routine purchases at a time when federal coinage had nearly vanished from everyday commerce. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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 6 cataloged varieties, Weighell & Son's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GI-3a