(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165EF-1A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from R.D. Norris of Cincinnati, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165EF-1A. Known as the "Queen of the West," Cincinnati served as a major Ohio River commercial hub. Its merchants produced hundreds of store card varieties during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. The 10 cataloged varieties for R.D. Norris indicate a notable level of token production. This copper striking (Fuld 165EF-1A) is common among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. 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. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 10 cataloged varieties, R.D. Norris was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165EF-1A