(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165AE-9a, Costello's OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Costello's, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Known as the "Queen of the West," Cincinnati served as a major Ohio River commercial hub. Its merchants produced hundreds of store card varieties during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Costello's produced 20 cataloged die varieties, reflecting a substantial token operation. This copper striking (Fuld 165AE-9a) 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. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 20 cataloged varieties, Costello's was a moderately active token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AE-9a