(1864) Copper-Nickel Civil War Store Card F-645A-2d, M. Hartman OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$504 MS65 10-14-2020 Stack's Bowers

Description

Merchant token from M. Hartman of N. Hampton, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 645A-2d. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. With 4 known varieties, M. Hartman produced a modest number of token types. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 645A-2d) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. 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. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 4 cataloged varieties, M. Hartman was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 645A-2d