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

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Ludlow & Bushnell in Springfld, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. 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. The 13 cataloged varieties for Ludlow & Bushnell indicate a notable level of token production. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 830D-8A) is common for this merchant. The absence of a date is typical for Civil War tokens produced during the 1862-1864 emergency currency period. Merchants typically ordered tokens from die-sinkers who maintained inventories of patriotic and advertising dies for rapid production. Merchant-issued tokens circulated as substitutes for scarce federal coinage throughout the Northern states between 1862 and 1864. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.

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 13 cataloged varieties, Ludlow & Bushnell was a notable token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830D-8A