(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-830A-8A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War-era store card from W.G. Brain, a Springfld, Ohio business. 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 W.G. Brain indicate a notable level of token production. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 830A-8A) is common. This undated piece entered commerce during the 1862-1864 period when millions of private tokens replaced vanished federal coinage. Token manufacturers struck pieces by the thousands, using hand-fed screw presses capable of producing several hundred tokens per hour. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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 14 cataloged varieties, W.G. Brain was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830A-8A