(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-110A-4a, G.B. Barrett OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$192 MS70BN 12-11-2023 Heritage Auctions

Description

G.B. Barrett, a Cadiz merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. 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.B. Barrett issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 110A-4a) is common. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. 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

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 9 cataloged varieties, G.B. Barrett was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 110A-4a