(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165GO-10D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by John Woessner's of 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 14 cataloged varieties for John Woessner's indicate a notable level of token production. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 165GO-10D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. 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. 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 14 cataloged varieties, John Woessner's was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165GO-10D