(No Date) Civil War Store Card F-995B-4a, OH

Coin Details

Description

Civil War merchant token bearing the name of H.G.O. Cary in 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. H.G.O. Cary issued 6 die varieties, more than most Civil War merchants. This copper striking (Fuld 995B-4a) is common among the known varieties. The absence of a date on this token is standard for the 1862-1864 era, when speed of production mattered more than formality. The dies for merchant tokens were usually cut by professional engravers who could produce a complete set in a matter of days. Congress banned private token issuance in April 1864, but before that, tokens like this one circulated freely as cent substitutes in Northern commerce. Over 25 million Civil War tokens were produced before Congress ended private coinage in April 1864, making them the largest private coinage movement in American history.

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, H.G.O. Cary was a minor token issuer.

Cross References

Fuld 995B-4a