(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-925A-1I, OH

Coin Details

Description

Merchant token from C.M. Coffin of West Newton, Ohio, cataloged as Fuld 925A-1I. Ohio's extensive commercial networks across dozens of cities generated an unparalleled body of merchant token issues during the 1862-1864 coin shortage. C.M. Coffin issued 7 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in zinc, this die combination (Fuld 925A-1I) is scarce. Although undated, this token was produced during the 1862-1864 period when federal coins disappeared from commerce. Many Civil War tokens share common reverse dies, as die sinkers paired merchant-specific obverses with stock patriotic or advertising reverses. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Zinc strikings are uncommon and prone to corrosion, making preserved examples desirable.

Rarity Notes

Zinc strikings are relatively uncommon and prone to corrosion, making well-preserved examples particularly desirable. With 7 cataloged varieties, C.M. Coffin was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 925A-1I