(1863) Copper Civil War Store Card F-995K-1a, Webster, Dumm & Co. OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$175 MS64BN 11-21-2022 eBay

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Webster, Dumm & Co., located in Zanesville, 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 2 known varieties, Webster, Dumm & Co. produced a modest number of token types. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 995K-1a) is common. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. 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 2 cataloged varieties, Webster, Dumm & Co. was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 995K-1a