(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-905A-3A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of Davis & Whiteman, located in Wapakoneta, Ohio. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. With 4 known varieties, Davis & Whiteman produced a modest number of token types. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 905A-3A) is common for this merchant. This undated token was struck circa 1862-1864 during the wartime coin shortage. Die sinkers produced these tokens on hand-operated screw presses, often filling orders for multiple merchants simultaneously. The Civil War small change crisis generated the largest private coinage movement in American history, with merchants and die sinkers producing tokens for circulation. Many Civil War tokens survive in high grades because merchants and the public saved them as novelties, resulting in a better average preservation than contemporary federal coins.

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, Davis & Whiteman was a limited producer of Civil War tokens.

Cross References

Fuld 905A-3A