(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-200D-5B, OH

Coin Details

Description

S.T. Martin, a Columbus merchant, issued this Civil War store card during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. As Ohio's capital, Columbus saw enormous wartime military activity, and its merchants issued tokens to facilitate commerce amid the acute coin shortage. S.T. Martin issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in brass, this die combination (Fuld 200D-5B) is common to somewhat scarce. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Token production was a specialized trade — die sinkers maintained catalogs of stock dies that merchants could pair with custom obverses. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Brass strikings are among the more available variants, though less common than copper.

Rarity Notes

Brass strikings are among the more available metal variants, though typically less common than copper. With 9 cataloged varieties, S.T. Martin was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 200D-5B