(1863) Brass Civil War Store Card F-830F-3b, Murphy & Bro. OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 MS64RB 03-29-2023 Stack's Bowers

Description

Store card of Murphy & Bro. in Springfld, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. Murphy & Bro. issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 830F-3b) is common to somewhat scarce. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, Murphy & Bro. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830F-3b