(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-925A-2A, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of C.M. Coffin, located in West Newton, Ohio. 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. This copper striking (Fuld 925A-2A) is common among the known varieties. 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. Collectors classify Civil War tokens by the Fuld numbering system, which catalogs each unique die combination with rarity ratings from R-1 (over 5,000 known) to R-10 (unique).

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, C.M. Coffin was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 925A-2A