(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-165V-3a, Chamberlain, Bros. OH

Coin Details

Description

Ni Chamberlain Bros. of Ohio issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Ni Chamberlain Bros. issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 165V-3a) is common among the known varieties. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Many Civil War tokens were produced in quantities far exceeding actual commercial need, as die sinkers and merchants recognized the speculative collecting interest that was already developing. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 8 cataloged varieties, Ni Chamberlain Bros. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165V-3a