(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-240A-3B, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Ruhl's, located in Defiance, 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. Ruhl's issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The brass composition of this variety (Fuld 240A-3B) is common to somewhat scarce for this merchant. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. 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. Brass tokens are moderately available, with their yellowish color distinguishing them from the standard copper issues.

Rarity Notes

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

Cross References

Fuld 240A-3B