(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-620B-1d, G.M. Shaw OH

Coin Details

Description

G.M. Shaw of New London issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. 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. G.M. Shaw issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 620B-1d) is somewhat scarce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Civil War tokens addressed a practical problem: the wartime disappearance of federal small change made daily transactions nearly impossible without private substitutes. 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 6 cataloged varieties, G.M. Shaw was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 620B-1d