(1864) Copper Civil War Store Card F-880F-5a, Pearson & Bro. OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Pearson & Bro., located in Troy, Ohio. Troy's industrial economy produced a substantial body of Civil War token issues, with local merchants advertising their services on these cent-sized pieces. Pearson & Bro. issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 880F-5a) is common. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 7 cataloged varieties, Pearson & Bro. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 880F-5a