(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-168B-4A, OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by J.L. King, operating in Circlevill, Ohio. Ohio produced more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state, driven by Cincinnati's role as the largest inland city and a Union Army supply hub. J.L. King issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 168B-4A) is common. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 7 cataloged varieties, J.L. King was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 168B-4A