(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-190A-1D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Icenhour & Co, located in Columbiana, 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. Icenhour & Co issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 190A-1D) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. 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 7 cataloged varieties, Icenhour & Co was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 190A-1D