(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-175M-4D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by I. P. Sherwood of Cleveland, Ohio. 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. I. P. Sherwood issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 175M-4D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. 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 8 cataloged varieties, I. P. Sherwood was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 175M-4D