(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165GU-2a, S.Y. OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 165GU-2a — store card of S.Y., 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. S.Y. issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165GU-2a) is common. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. 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 8 cataloged varieties, S.Y. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GU-2a