(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-830E-1b, G.W. McLean OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by G.W. McLean, operating in Springfld, Ohio. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. G.W. McLean issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 830E-1b) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 7 cataloged varieties, G.W. McLean was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830E-1b