(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165GN-4D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Wine Steiner of Cincinnati, Ohio. 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. The 10 cataloged varieties for Wine Steiner indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper-nickel, this die combination (Fuld 165GN-4D) is somewhat scarce. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. 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 10 cataloged varieties, Wine Steiner was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GN-4D