(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-160A-1B, OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$61 MS63 02-28-2017 Heritage Auctions

Description

John Bohm of Ohio issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. With 2 known varieties, John Bohm produced a modest number of token types. This brass striking (Fuld 160A-1B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Brass planchets were readily available to die sinkers, making this a relatively accessible metal variant for collectors.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 2 cataloged varieties, John Bohm was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 160A-1B