(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165AP-8a, E. Fielder's OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$9,988 MS63 08-05-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

Merchant token from E. Fielder's of Cincinnati, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165AP-8a. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. The 13 cataloged varieties for E. Fielder's indicate a notable level of token production. This copper striking (Fuld 165AP-8a) 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 hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 13 cataloged varieties, E. Fielder's was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AP-8a