(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165AC-5D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Chas. Conroy of Cincinnati, Ohio. 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. Chas. Conroy issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 165AC-5D) is somewhat scarce. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. 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 9 cataloged varieties, Chas. Conroy was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AC-5D