(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165AK-3B, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from R. Downing, 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. R. Downing issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 165AK-3B) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. 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. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, R. Downing was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165AK-3B