(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-880G-1A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Rinehart & Gray, located in Troy, Ohio. Troy was a manufacturing center on the Hudson River known for its iron and steel production, including horseshoe and railroad spike industries. With 4 known varieties, Rinehart & Gray produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 880G-1A) is common for this merchant. Most Civil War store cards carry no date; this token was struck during the 1862-1864 coin shortage era. The token trade was competitive, with die sinkers in New York, Cincinnati, and other cities vying for merchant orders across the region. 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 4 cataloged varieties, Rinehart & Gray was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 880G-1A