(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-165DW-4d, Morgan & Ferry OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$660 MS65 11-18-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Civil War-era store card from Morgan & Ferry, a Cincinnati, Ohio business. Cincinnati was the largest inland city in antebellum America and a critical supply center for the Union Army, driving Ohio to produce more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state. The 19 cataloged varieties for Morgan & Ferry indicate a notable level of token production. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 165DW-4d) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. 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.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 19 cataloged varieties, Morgan & Ferry was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165DW-4d