(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-620A-1d, H.H. Robinson OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from H.H. Robinson of New London, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 620A-1d. 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. The 11 cataloged varieties for H.H. Robinson indicate a notable level of token production. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 620A-1d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 11 cataloged varieties, H.H. Robinson was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 620A-1d