(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165DS-3a, L. Meyer OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 165DS-3a — store card of L. Meyer, Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati was the largest inland city in antebellum America and a critical supply center for the Union Army, driving Ohio to produce more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state. L. Meyer issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 165DS-3a) is common among the known varieties. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. 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 8 cataloged varieties, L. Meyer was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165DS-3a