(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-935A-1a, OH

Coin Details

Description

This Civil War token was issued by Owens & Taylor, operating in Wilmington, Ohio. Ohio produced more varieties of Civil War store cards than any other state, driven by Cincinnati's role as the largest inland city and a Union Army supply hub. Owens & Taylor issued 5 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. The copper composition of this variety (Fuld 935A-1a) is common for this merchant. Like the majority of Civil War store cards, this token is undated, produced during the acute 1862-1864 small change crisis. Professional die sinkers like John Stanton, Benjamin True, and William Bridgens supplied dies to merchants across the Northern states. Federal coinage vanished from circulation after 1861 as citizens hoarded silver and copper for their metal value, leaving merchants to fill the void with tokens. 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 5 cataloged varieties, Owens & Taylor was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 935A-1a