(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-840A-1a, John S. Kingsland OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$384 MS62+BN 09-21-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

John S. Kingsland of Stryker issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. 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, John S. Kingsland produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 840A-1a) is common. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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 2 cataloged varieties, John S. Kingsland was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 840A-1a