(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-165V-4B, OH

Coin Details

Description

Ni Chamberlain Bros. of Ohio issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Ni Chamberlain Bros. issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 165V-4B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. 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. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Brass was the second most common planchet material after copper, giving tokens a golden appearance.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 8 cataloged varieties, Ni Chamberlain Bros. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 165V-4B