(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-620A-11A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card issued by H.H. Robinson of New London, 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. The 11 cataloged varieties for H.H. Robinson indicate a notable level of token production. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 620A-11A) is common for this merchant. Civil War tokens rarely bear dates. This piece was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage, when merchants needed emergency small change. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation.

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 11 cataloged varieties, H.H. Robinson was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 620A-11A