(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-700C-5j, RH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from the Fuld 700C-5j series, attributed to the unidentified issuer "RH." Assigned to the Fuld 700 "RH" series, a large group of Civil War store cards whose issuer remains unidentified. The scope of the series — spanning many die pairings and metal variants — points to a professional token manufacturer rather than an individual retail merchant. Struck in German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy containing no actual silver), a scarce composition that produces a bright silvery appearance. The absence of a date is common for Civil War tokens, which were produced during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute. Token production during the Civil War represented the largest private coinage movement in American history, with an estimated 25 million pieces struck between 1862 and 1864. Americans had hoarded federal coins since the suspension of specie payments in December 1861.

Rarity Notes

German silver (a copper-nickel-zinc alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and are sought after for their distinctive silvery appearance. With 19 cataloged varieties, RH was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 700C-5j