(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165AQ-1E, OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$99 MS62 09-22-2016 Heritage Auctions

Description

Civil War store card from Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165AQ-1E. 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. Struck in white metal, this die combination (Fuld 165AQ-1E) is somewhat scarce. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. White metal strikings are less common than copper or brass and show more wear due to the soft alloy. 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

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 1 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 165AQ-1E