(1861-65) White Metal Civil War Store Card F-5A-2e, Stoner & Shroyer OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 MS61 03-31-2021 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War store card issued by Stoner & Shroyer of Adamsville, Ohio. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. With 40 cataloged die varieties, Stoner & Shroyer was one of the most prolific token issuers in the series. Struck in white metal, this die combination (Fuld 5A-2e) is somewhat scarce. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. White metal strikings are less common than copper or brass and show more wear due to the soft alloy. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 40 cataloged varieties, Stoner & Shroyer was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 5A-2e