(1863) Civil War Store Card F-230D-1a, Rickey's Book Store OH

Coin Details

Description

Rickey's Book Store, based in Dayton, Ohio, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Dayton was a prosperous manufacturing city known for its agricultural machinery and paper production. With 2 known varieties, Rickey's Book Store produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 230D-1a) is common among the known varieties. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 2 cataloged varieties, Rickey's Book Store was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 230D-1a