(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-5A-1a, Stoner & Shroyer OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 5A-1a — store card of Stoner & Shroyer, Adamsville, Ohio. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. With 40 cataloged die varieties, Stoner & Shroyer was one of the most prolific token issuers in the series. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 5A-1a) is common. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, the U.S. Mint dramatically increased production of small-denomination coins, and the new bronze two-cent piece helped alleviate the shortage. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

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 40 cataloged varieties, Stoner & Shroyer was a substantial producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 5A-1a