(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-830G-1a, C. Runyon OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from C. Runyon of Springfld, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 830G-1a. Ohio produced more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state, driven by Cincinnati's role as the largest inland city and a Union Army supply hub. C. Runyon issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 830G-1a) is common for this merchant. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 5 cataloged varieties, C. Runyon was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830G-1a