(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-165GA-5d, Wm. Tell OH

Coin Details

Description

Wm. Tell, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, produced this token as a cent substitute during the wartime coin shortage. 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. Wm. Tell issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 165GA-5d) is somewhat scarce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 7 cataloged varieties, Wm. Tell was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GA-5d