(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-200D-14a, S.T. Martin OH

Coin Details

Description

S.T. Martin of Columbus issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War 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. S.T. Martin issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 200D-14a) is common. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. 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 9 cataloged varieties, S.T. Martin was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200D-14a