(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165P-5A, OH

Coin Details

Auction Record

$259 XF40 08-05-2014 Heritage Auctions

Description

Store card of Frank Beresford in Cincinnati, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Cincinnati's position as a Union Army supply center and Ohio River trade hub made it a prolific source of Civil War tokens. John Stanton and other die sinkers based in the city produced dies for merchants across the Midwest. The 16 cataloged varieties for Frank Beresford indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 165P-5A) is common. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens.

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 16 cataloged varieties, Frank Beresford was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165P-5A