(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-200A-3a, John Grether OH

Coin Details

Description

John Grether, a Columbus merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. As Ohio's capital, Columbus saw enormous wartime military activity, and its merchants issued tokens to facilitate commerce amid the acute coin shortage. The 12 cataloged varieties for John Grether indicate a notable level of token production. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 200A-3a) is common for this merchant. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily 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 12 cataloged varieties, John Grether was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200A-3a