(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-185A-6A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from P. Carle & Son, a Collinsvil, Ohio business. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. P. Carle & Son issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 185A-6A) is common. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Surviving specimens are tangible artifacts of the wartime monetary crisis that affected every commercial transaction in the Northern states.

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 8 cataloged varieties, P. Carle & Son was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 185A-6A