(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165GB-12D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of E. Townley, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. 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 16 cataloged varieties for E. Townley indicate a notable level of token production. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 165GB-12D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. 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. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. 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 16 cataloged varieties, E. Townley was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GB-12D