(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-815A-5A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Fry & Johnston, located in Sidney, Ohio. 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. Fry & Johnston issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 815A-5A) is common. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

Rarity Notes

Copper strikings are generally the most common metal variant for Civil War store cards, as copper was the standard planchet material mimicking the federal cent. With 5 cataloged varieties, Fry & Johnston was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 815A-5A