(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-995F-3a, G.W. Griffee OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by G.W. Griffee, operating in Zanesville, Ohio. 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 4 known varieties, G.W. Griffee produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 995F-3a) is common for this merchant. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. 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. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 4 cataloged varieties, G.W. Griffee was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 995F-3a