(1861-65) Copper Civil War Store Card F-815A-3a, Fry & Johnston OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 815A-3a — store card of Fry & Johnston, Sidney, 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. Fry & Johnston issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 815A-3a) is common. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. The transition from large copper cents to small-diameter bronze cents in 1857 had already created a shortage mindset, making the public particularly anxious about coin supplies when war began. 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 5 cataloged varieties, Fry & Johnston was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 815A-3a