(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-200D-2A, OH

Coin Details

Description

S.T. Martin, a Columbus merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. Columbus, the state capital, was a major military staging area with Camp Chase housing Confederate prisoners and thousands of Union troops training within the city. S.T. Martin issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 200D-2A) is common for this merchant. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 9 cataloged varieties, S.T. Martin was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200D-2A