(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-200B-1D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Heintz & Henkle of Columbus, Ohio. As Ohio's capital, Columbus saw enormous wartime military activity, and its merchants issued tokens to facilitate commerce amid the acute coin shortage. Heintz & Henkle issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper-nickel striking (Fuld 200B-1D) is somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. 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 5 cataloged varieties, Heintz & Henkle was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200B-1D