(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-165FZ-6d, C. Sutton's OH

Coin Details

Description

Store card of C. Sutton's in Cincinnati, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Known as the "Queen of the West," Cincinnati served as a major Ohio River commercial hub. Its merchants produced hundreds of store card varieties during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. C. Sutton's issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 165FZ-6d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 8 cataloged varieties, C. Sutton's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165FZ-6d