(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-645B-2B, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from G.W. McLean, a N. Hampton, Ohio business. 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. G.W. McLean issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This brass striking (Fuld 645B-2B) is common to somewhat scarce among the known varieties. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. 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 6 cataloged varieties, G.W. McLean was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 645B-2B