(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-745B-4D, OH

Coin Details

Description

S.W. Cunning of Portsmouth issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. 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. S.W. Cunning issued 9 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 745B-4D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. Undated Civil War tokens like this one circulated alongside dated issues during the 1862-1864 period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. The copper-nickel composition gave these tokens the closest resemblance to federal coinage of any metal variant.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 9 cataloged varieties, S.W. Cunning was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 745B-4D