(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-165ER-12d, John Ravy OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$552 MS63 01-12-2022 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of John Ravy, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. The 17 cataloged varieties for John Ravy indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 165ER-12d) is somewhat scarce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 17 cataloged varieties, John Ravy was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165ER-12d