(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-800A-2a, W.K. McMillins OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from W.K. McMillins of Sharonvill, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 800A-2a. 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. W.K. McMillins issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 800A-2a) is common. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. 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. 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 6 cataloged varieties, W.K. McMillins was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 800A-2a