(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-750N-1e, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War store card from Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 750N-1e. 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. Struck in white metal, this die combination (Fuld 750N-1e) is somewhat scarce. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. 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. White metal strikings are less common than copper or brass and show more wear due to the soft alloy. Token production peaked in 1863 when the coin shortage was most acute, with die sinkers working around the clock to fill merchant orders.

Rarity Notes

White metal (tin alloy) strikings are less common than copper or brass versions and tend to show more wear due to the softness of the alloy. With 2 cataloged varieties, this merchant was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 750N-1e