(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-880F-2A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Store card of Pearson & Bro. in Troy, Ohio, struck during the 1862-1864 token era. Troy's industrial economy produced a substantial body of Civil War token issues, with local merchants advertising their services on these cent-sized pieces. Pearson & Bro. issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 880F-2A) is common for this merchant. No date appears on this token, consistent with the rapid production practices of the 1862-1864 Civil War token boom. Each unique combination of obverse and reverse dies constitutes a separate Fuld catalog number, even when struck in the same metal. The hoarding of federal coinage created an acute shortage of small change, prompting thousands of merchants to issue tokens as practical substitutes. Civil War store cards are collected both as numismatic items and as historical documents of wartime American commerce.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 7 cataloged varieties, Pearson & Bro. was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 880F-2A