(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-880G-3A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Rinehart & Gray, located in Troy, Ohio. Troy's industrial economy produced a substantial body of Civil War token issues, with local merchants advertising their services on these cent-sized pieces. With 4 known varieties, Rinehart & Gray produced a modest number of token types. This copper striking (Fuld 880G-3A) is common among the known varieties. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers offered merchants a choice of metals, with copper being cheapest and most common, while silver and gold were struck for collectors. Private tokens entered circulation after the suspension of specie payments in late 1861 drained small change from commerce. After Congress banned private coinage in 1864, surviving tokens became instant collectibles, with serious collecting beginning within a decade of the war's end.

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-3A