(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-975F-3a, OH

Coin Details

Description

Samuel Geitgey of Wooster issued this token as emergency currency during the Civil War coin shortage. 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. Samuel Geitgey issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. Struck in copper, this die combination (Fuld 975F-3a) is common. 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. Between 1862 and 1864, Northern merchants produced millions of private tokens to compensate for the disappearance of federal coinage. The Fuld catalog documents thousands of distinct die combinations for Civil War store cards, making this one of the most complex series in American numismatics.

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 6 cataloged varieties, Samuel Geitgey was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 975F-3a