(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-750Q-1a, G.J. Ruelius OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by G.J. Ruelius in Ohio. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. With 2 known varieties, G.J. Ruelius produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 750Q-1a) is common among the known varieties. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 2 cataloged varieties, G.J. Ruelius was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 750Q-1a