(1863) Civil War Store Card F-310A-1a, E.L. Lemert OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of E.L. Lemert, located in Frazeyburg, Ohio. 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. E.L. Lemert issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 310A-1a) is common. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. The coin shortage of 1862-1864 affected virtually every retail transaction in the Northern states, as hoarding removed silver and copper coins from circulation faster than the U.S. Mint could replace them. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 5 cataloged varieties, E.L. Lemert was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 310A-1a