(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165EF-4a, R.D. Norris OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of R.D. Norris, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. 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 10 cataloged varieties for R.D. Norris indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165EF-4a) is common. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 10 cataloged varieties, R.D. Norris was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165EF-4a