(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-830F-3A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Murphy & Bro., located in Springfld, Ohio. 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. Murphy & Bro. issued 8 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 830F-3A) is common among the known varieties. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. George and Melvin Fuld's catalog remains the standard reference for Civil War tokens, with each variety assigned a unique identification number.

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 8 cataloged varieties, Murphy & Bro. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 830F-3A