(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-175G-1D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Store card of D.W. Gage in Cleveland, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Cleveland's position on Lake Erie made it a vital shipping hub for wartime goods, and its merchants participated actively in the Civil War token phenomenon. D.W. Gage issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 175G-1D) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. 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 9 cataloged varieties, D.W. Gage was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 175G-1D