(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-835B-2a, J.H. Bristor OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by J.H. Bristor of Steubenvil, Ohio. 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. With 3 known varieties, J.H. Bristor produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 835B-2a) is common. 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. The cent-sized format was chosen deliberately to match the federal Indian Head cent, the coin most conspicuously absent from daily commerce.

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 3 cataloged varieties, J.H. Bristor was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 835B-2a