(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-240A-5A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by Ruhl's of Defiance, Ohio. The breadth of Ohio's Civil War token production reflects the state's diverse economy, from Cincinnati's river trade to Cleveland's Lake Erie shipping to interior manufacturing towns. Ruhl's issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 240A-5A) is common. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. The token era ended when Congress authorized new federal small-denomination currency and criminalized private token production in 1864. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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, Ruhl's was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 240A-5A