(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-995E-1a, Alex R. Grant OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Alex R. Grant of Zanesville, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 995E-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. With 3 known varieties, Alex R. Grant produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 995E-1a) is common among the known varieties. 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 3 cataloged varieties, Alex R. Grant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 995E-1a