(1863) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-880A-1d, J. Hall OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from J. Hall, a Troy, Ohio business. Troy's industrial economy produced a substantial body of Civil War token issues, with local merchants advertising their services on these cent-sized pieces. With 2 known varieties, J. Hall produced a modest number of token types. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 880A-1d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. 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. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 2 cataloged varieties, J. Hall was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 880A-1d