(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-270A-3A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 270A-3A — store card of D. Farnham & Co., Edgerton, 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. D. Farnham & Co. issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 270A-3A) is common for this merchant. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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 6 cataloged varieties, D. Farnham & Co. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 270A-3A