(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-385B-3A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Fuld 385B-3A — store card of H. & W. Frechtling, Hamilton, 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. H. & W. Frechtling issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 385B-3A) is common. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 7 cataloged varieties, H. & W. Frechtling was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 385B-3A