(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165FA-2J, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 165FA-2J. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. The german silver composition of this variety (Fuld 165FA-2J) is scarce for this merchant. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. German silver pieces have a silvery-white color that distinguishes them from the more common copper and brass strikings. 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

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 8 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165FA-2J