(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-230A-1a, J.C. Cain OH

Coin Details

Description

J.C. Cain, based in Dayton, Ohio, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. Dayton was a prosperous manufacturing city known for its agricultural machinery and paper production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 230A-1a) is common. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. Many Civil War tokens were produced in quantities far exceeding actual commercial need, as die sinkers and merchants recognized the speculative collecting interest that was already developing. 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 1 cataloged varieties, J.C. Cain was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 230A-1a