(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-830B-5a, Kaufmann & Co OH

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Kaufmann & Co in Springfld, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. The 10 cataloged varieties for Kaufmann & Co indicate a notable level of token production. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 830B-5a) is common for this merchant. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

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 10 cataloged varieties, Kaufmann & Co was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830B-5a