(1862) Brass Civil War Store Card F-290A-1b, W.B. Eager OH

Coin Details

Description

W.B. Eager of Elyria issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. 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. With 3 known varieties, W.B. Eager produced a modest number of token types. This brass striking (Fuld 290A-1b) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. The brass composition gives this token a warm golden tone that contrasts with the reddish-brown of copper strikings. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 3 cataloged varieties, W.B. Eager was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 290A-1b