(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-165GP-3b, G. Wolfer OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$168 MS64 03-05-2019 Stack's Bowers

Description

G. Wolfer of Cincinnati issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. G. Wolfer issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 165GP-3b) is common to somewhat scarce. 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. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 9 cataloged varieties, G. Wolfer was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GP-3b