(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-200D-1a, S.T. Martin OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by S.T. Martin of Columbus, Ohio. Columbus, the state capital, was a major military staging area with Camp Chase housing Confederate prisoners and thousands of Union troops training within the city. S.T. Martin issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 200D-1a) is common for this merchant. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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-1a