(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-805A-4D, OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from Cummins & Anderson of Shelby, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 805A-4D. 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. The 14 cataloged varieties for Cummins & Anderson indicate a notable level of token production. The copper-nickel composition of this variety (Fuld 805A-4D) is somewhat scarce for this merchant. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Store cards circulated as emergency currency after wartime hoarding removed federal coins from commercial channels. Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce, resembling the federal Indian Head cent in both size and color.

Rarity Notes

Copper-nickel strikings are moderately scarce compared to pure copper or brass versions. With 14 cataloged varieties, Cummins & Anderson was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 805A-4D